Promoter’s body recovered

Sep 02, 2010 News

The police had a tough job controlling the large crowd that had assembled on the Mahaicony Bridge to get a glimpse of the body.

Almost 48 hours after promoter Godwin Maxwell jumped into the Mahaicony River following a daring escape from the Mahaicony Police Station, his body was recovered by a search party comprising police ranks and relatives.
The discovery was made around 06:30 hours yesterday at the mouth of the Mahaicony River, some three miles from where Maxwell took his fatal plunge.
A post mortem examination was performed on the body by Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh who gave the cause of death as asphyxiation due to drowning and blunt trauma to the head.
This has put paid to speculations that Maxwell was shot after plunging into the river.
Godwin Maxwell had jumped into the Mahaicony River on Monday in efforts to escape from the custody of the police at the Mahaicony Station after making an appearance at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.
While relatives were hopeful that he had somehow managed to make it to shore and was in hiding, their worst fears were confirmed when a search party found his swollen body lying on the beach at the mouth of the Mahaicony River.

Relatives were inconsolable when Maxwell’s body was brought ashore.

The body was tied and towed into shore where a large crowd had gathered to witness the arrival.
As the boat hauling the body appeared in sight, there was loud wailing from both family members and fellow villagers, and the police had to pull out all the stops to keep the crowd from encroaching on the area where the body was brought ashore.
Initially, the police had contemplated performing the post mortem at the site but after contacting the pathologist, the body was whisked away to the city.
Those gathered at the scene were anxious to ascertain if the body bore any visible wounds but detectives quickly dispelled those fears.
Maxwell’s uncle, Wilbert Innis, told this newspaper that the family was relieved to recovered his body.
“One chapter is now closed,” Innis said.
According to Innis, contrary to reports, the dead man’s family had not cast any blame on the police following Maxwell’s disappearance.
He indicated that officials from the police’s Office of Professional Responsibilities visited the family yesterday and took statements with the intention of carry out a proper investigation into what really transpired on Monday.
Innis said that Maxwell’s mother and his brother are already on their way for his funeral, which is expected to take place tomorrow.