Tobago investigators are currently waiting for a forensic pathologist to become available so that they can resume their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Reynold “Jahjah” Fraser.
A police report said that Fraser, 67, collapsed and died during a domestic dispute with a woman on August 28. It has been reported that the two had a physical altercation at Fraser’s Betsy Hope home around the time of his death.
Although the police have not yet classified the death, the issue of determining exactly how Fraser died lies in the availability of a pathologist to conduct an autopsy on his body, which is currently being stored at the Scarborough General Hospital mortuary.
Supt Rodhill Kirk explained to Guardian Media, “I know another request was made to have it done, and I know that it is currently in progress. We are awaiting word from the Forensic Science Centre regarding their availability, as there was some initial miscommunication that resulted in the autopsy not being performed when it was supposed to be.”
Kirk added, “We are waiting for feedback regarding the other request.
“Forensic pathologists operate under the Ministry of National Security. This is the only aspect hindering the progress of the investigation, as the police have completed all necessary preliminary steps. We simply need the results of the autopsy, which will determine whether the person died naturally or from other causes. If the autopsy reveals natural causes, the investigation will be closed. If it indicates a traumatic injury, further questions will need to be asked.”
The issue of pathologist availability in Tobago has been an ongoing challenge that has impeded the progress of police investigations on the island.
In 2019, relatives of murder victim Mark Nurse were left frustrated when his body remained at the Scarborough mortuary for over two weeks after his death.
Nurse, an MI4 security officer, was Tobago’s tenth murder victim in 2019 after he had been fatally shot on December 19 in Carnbee. It took three weeks for his body to be released to his relatives. During that same period, the body of Taury Ramsey, who was Tobago’s first road fatality in 2020, awaited an autopsy at the mortuary.
In 2017, two families experienced a month-long delay before a forensic pathologist was able to travel to Tobago to conduct autopsies. The bodies of Sylvester Marshal and Anita Jeffery of Santa Cruz were left waiting at the Scarborough mortuary for a forensic autopsy to be performed.
This followed former pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov’s demand that he would not visit Tobago to conduct any autopsies until he received fair treatment in comparison to pathologist Hughvon Des Vignes.
Jeffery collapsed and died on May 28 while she attended a Twelve Tribes celebration in Mason Hall.
Marshal was found dead in a house in Parlatuvier.
Their autopsies were eventually conducted on June 27 by Pathologist Dr Eastlyn Mc Donald-Burris.
Due to the state of decomposition over the one month, Jeffery’s relatives decided not to return her to Trinidad instead she was laid to rest in Tobago.
