Relatives of Brian Smith, who drowned two weeks ago after allegedly being beaten by soldiers, are now calling for some action to be taken against pathologist Dr Easlyn McDonald-Burris, who performed the first autopsy on Smith.
In the first autopsy, Smith’s cause of death was given as drowning. A second autopsy also found drowning as the cause of death but also found blunt force trauma to the face and head prior to his death.
In an interview with CNC3 on Wednesday night, Smith’s sister, Anika Kwanzaa, said the second report done by Dr Hughvon des Vignes highlighted her brother had injuries to his head and face.
She added none of those injuries were indicated on the first autopsy done by McDonald-Burris on November 23, one day after Smith’s bloated body was found. She said with the second report, the family had all the evidence they needed and will be seeking legal options for justice.
“Something should be done about that person who did the first autopsy. She did not do it fair. Things that was supposed to have been done was not done,” Kwanzaa said.
In a press release on Tuesday, McDonald-Burris defended criticism against her, noting Smith’s autopsy was performed with “mature professional consideration and appropriate unbiased skill.”
Kwanzaa said with the second report, the soldiers involved in the incident, all members of the Engineering Battalion, should be afraid as they would be held culpable for Smith’s death.
In a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, a senior Homicide official said officers had not yet reviewed the findings of the second report.
The officer said investigators heard of the second report through the media and while not making any finding themselves, the alleged injuries could also have been sustained through a fall.