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Canadian investigator does not have enough experience, qualification for Adriana Younge’s case- family lawyer
Kaieteur News- The family of the late Adriana Younge has raised serious concerns over the qualifications and experience of Canadian investigator, Leonard McCoshen, a retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who was recently appointed by the Government of Guyana to assist with the investigation into the child’s death.
In a statement issued by attorney Dr. Dexter Todd on Friday, during a meeting held at the Marriott Hotel, McCoshen met with Adriana’s parents, and the family’s lead attorney, Dr. Todd. While the Canadian expert expressed condolences and thanked the family for their time, Dr. Todd used the opportunity to challenge the adequacy of McCoshen’s expertise for what he described as a “complex and highly specialised” investigation.
McCoshen clarified that he had been retained by the Government of Guyana, not the Guyana Police Force, and had been provided with all relevant documents, photographs, and video footage pertaining to the case. He informed the family that his next steps would include a thorough review of the materials followed by interviews, culminating in a report that would be submitted to the government. However, he could not guarantee that the family would receive a copy of that report, which raised concern from the grieving relatives.
Dr. Dexter Todd
Dr. Todd, while expressing appreciation for Mr. McCoshen’s presence, questioned his suitability for the task.
“Dr. Todd inquired from Mr. Mc Coshen whether he was a Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI) or had any training in that area, since such knowledge is essential in homicidal drowning cases. Mr. Mc. Coshen confirmed that he did not have such training,” the statement read.
Further, Dr. Todd concluded that the Canadian investigator’s experiences and qualifications are not sufficient for Adriana’s case. “Dr. Todd outlined to Mr. Mc. Coshen that based on the complexity of the matter at hand, his (Mr. Mc. Coshen’s) experience and qualifications may not be sufficient for a thorough investigation, but rather may require greater specialisations. He recommended the need for a more competent forensic specialists’ group,” Dr Todd said.
Furthering the family’s concerns, Dr. Todd criticised the lack of transparency regarding the full composition of the investigation team and emphasised that the Guyana Police Force lacks a trained Medicolegal Death Investigation (MDI) capable of coordinating an evidence-based inquiry. “…He then asked whether Mr. Mc. Coshen was prepared to recommend to the Government of Guyana that a competent team of specialists should be selected which can satisfy the complexity of this investigation. Mr. Mc. Coshen committed to raising these questions and concerns with the relevant authorities,” the statement read.
During the meeting, Dr. Todd also addressed technical limitations, stating that McCoshen may lack the skills required to reconstruct the scene of Adriana’s death which is a key step in understanding the sequence of events leading to her tragic death. “Dr. Todd further raised the fact that Mr. Mc. Coshen himself does not possess all the skills needed to rebuild the scene or scenario of the incident and that will further hinder his investigation,” the statement read.
Pressing on the need for transparency and clarity, Dr. Todd reiterated the family’s request for the preliminary autopsy report so it could be reviewed by other experts, as well as details about the forensic tests already conducted or still pending. He cautioned that without this information, the family might be forced to consider exhuming the child’s body for independent analysis.
Another concern raised was the failure of authorities to determine an approximate time of death which the three pathologists involved had been unable to conclude. Dr. Todd emphasised that an anthropologist might be needed to assist in the investigation. “He asked Mr. Mc. Coshen if he was willing to recommend such a specialist to assist. Mr. Mc. Coshen noted that this may be part of the conversation he will have with the authorities,” Dr. Todd said.
Dr. Todd had informed the investigator that after three weeks since Adriana’s death, the family was not yet interviewed by police. “Dr. Todd further inquired whether Mr. Mc. Coshen was doing the investigation independently from start to finish, since the Guyana Police Force lacks the competence, integrity and expertise is many areas needed for a thorough investigation in this case. Mr. Mc. Coshen was shocked to learn that weeks after the discovery of the body of the deceased, the father of the deceased, who was present at the hotel from the time the alarm was raised that she was missing, and who removed her body from the pool at the Double Day Hotel, was never interviewed by investigators or a statement taken from him. In fact, neither parent was ever interviewed by investigators,” the statement read.
Mc Coshen stated that those interviews would be done during his investigations. Dr. Todd closed the meeting by renewing the family’s demand for a competent, multidisciplinary investigative team to be assembled. McCoshen, in turn, promised to seek answers and planned to meet with the Crime Chief later that day to further discuss the case and the concerns raised.
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Canadian investigator does not have enough experience, qualification for Adriana Younge’s case- family lawyer
Why the government focus so much to NOT provide transparency and clarity to the child family?
Is the government working together with whomever committed the act, that lead to lifeless child body?
The family not interviewed by the police… Is because the police them self was part of the cover ups so what do they have to go interview the child family!
By the seconds this case is unfolding, and clarity is an must, need to bring an stop and end to take innocent child life.
The child family, entire country and all nations across the Globe to all come together and put all the ones them accountable for this act to be in court!
From police force to hotel owners, staff and all the government teams to be put behind bars! And throw away the keys
Kind regards
MSB