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Soldier’s funeral postponed Third autopsy to be done today

Derek Achong
Published: 
Friday, January 4, 2013
Petit Bourg residents protest the unexplained death of Lance Corporal Curtis Marshall along the Eastern Main Road, Petit Bourg, on New Year’s Day. PHOTO: MARCUS GONZALES

 

The funeral of soldier Lance Cpl Curtis Marshall has been postponed to allow for a third autopsy on his body.
 
Marshall was due to be buried this afternoon at the St James Military Cemetery, Long Circular Road, St James, after a funeral service at Ryan Street in San Juan. 
 
In a telephone interview yesterday, Marshall’s brother Dennis explained that the third autopsy will be done this morning at the Forensic Science Centre in St James by forensic pathologist Dr Hubert Daisley. 
 
Daisley did the second autopsy, at the family’s request, at the SD Simpson Funeral home in Laventille on Tuesday. 
 
The first was done the day before at the forensic centre by pathologist Dr Eastlyn McDonald-Burris. 

Both autopsies listed the cause of death as asphyxia consistent with strangulation. However, Daisley’s report also claimed Marshall was kicked in the head before he died. 
 
When asked about the reason for a third autopsy, Dennis explained that Daisley wished to recheck his initial autopsy, including his findings on Marshall’s head injuries. 
 
Dennis maintained that his family would be putting their protest action on hold while the investigation into his brother’s death continues. 
 
On New Year’s Day, Marshall’s family and neighbours staged a fiery protest near to their Petit Bourg homes, blocking roads with burning tyres and debris. 
 
Instead of a protest, on Wednesday night the family held a candlelight vigil on the Eastern Main Road in San Juan. 
 
Wednesday’s vigil was almost called off after a driver lost control of his vehicle on Bushe Street, San Juan, and collided with two mourners, who were slightly injured.
 
A similar vigil was expected to take place from 7 pm last night. It was scheduled to begin at the Croisee in San Juan and go to Marshall’s family home. 
 
According to reports, around 11.40 pm on Saturday, Marshall, 30, was thought to have collapsed outside the clothing and equipment stores at Defence Force’s Teteron Headquarters.
 
He was taken to the Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital in Cocorite, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight. 
 
Sgt Sheldene Bacchus, of the Region One Homicide Bureau of Investigation, has been assigned to investigate Marshall’s death. 
 
A source close to the investigation revealed yesterday that it was expected to be completed by this weekend or early next week. The source said all soldiers who were on duty at the time of Marshall’s death had been interviewed on Tuesday, and were not confined to barracks. 
 
On Wednesday, T&T Regiment personnel and some members of Marshall’s family were able to view CCTV footage of the area where Marshall collapsed. 
 
The footage, which reportedly does not capture the identity of Marshall’s attackers, has been handed over to the police Cyber Crimes Unit. Marshall, who had a five-year-old daughter, enlisted in the T&T Regiment a little over eight years ago and was assigned to the Payroll Department.
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