Soldier’s family wants to meet pathologists (with CNC3 video)

Qualifications of local Forensic Pathologists under question

Dennis Marshall, brother of Lance Corporal Curtis Marshall, says the family will not rest until the late soldier’s true cause of death is determined. He said there were too many inconsistencies surrounding his brother’s death at Defence Force Headquarters, Chaguaramas, last Saturday.

Marshall confirmed that the funeral will take place at 2.30 pm tomorrow at the Church of Christ, Ryan Street, San Juan, then to the St James Military Cemetery, Long Circular Road, St James, for burial. “We not resting,” he said. “We going right down with the investigations with the police. We will get justice. In God’s eyes we will get justice.”

Reports are that Marshall, 30, collapsed at around 11.40 pm on December 29 outside the clothing and equipment stores at Defence Force Headquarters. He was taken to the Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital in Cocorite where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

Dennis said his brother was rostered to work the Friday and not the Saturday and he demanded that the family be told who made the switch. “That has raised eyebrows and we have to know who that person was who called and asked him to come to work on the Saturday.” Sgt Sheldene Bacchus of the Region One Homicide Bureau of Investigation has been assigned to investigate Marshall’s death.

Three autopsies have been performed since Marshall died. But in a surprise development, pathologist Dr Hubert Daisley apologised to the family on Friday after the third autopsy revealed that Marshall may have died from an asthma attack.

The first autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr Eastlyn Mc Donald-Burris found that strangulation was the cause of death. Daisley performed the second autopsy and confirmed Mc Donald-Burris’ findings. He also claimed Marshall was kicked in the head before he died. On Wednesday, family members were able to view CCTV footage of the area where Marshall collapsed. That footage has since been handed over to the Cyber Crime Unit.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Dennis said the immediate family wanted to meet urgently with Daisley and Mc Donald-Burris. “Daisley is the one who said my brother was murdered. So how come now he is saying something else?” he asked. “This just not adding up and we are going to meet with them after they complete the report on Wednesday. How can he make such a mistake?

“This thing not sounding good at all.” Dennis also questioned information from Civil Military Affairs Officer of the Defence Force Major Al Alexander who told the media Marshall was not asthmatic when he entered the T&T Regiment. Dennis said: “My brother was born asthmatic, so how can Alexander tell the media that?” His said his brother suffered an asthma attack about two months ago at work and alway had his nebuliser with him.

Marshall was one of four boys. He had one sister. His mother died two years ago and his father is unwell, Dennis said. His daughter, five-year-old Curtlyn, is only just beginning to understand that her father is dead.