Henry boys murder trial hears chilling testimony from father, police

May 09, 2026 News

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By Shermon Hawker

(Kaieteur News) – The trial of Vinood Gopaul and Anil Sanchara continued at the Berbice High Court on Friday, with Gladstone Henry, the father of Isaiah Henry sharing distressing details about his son’s death.

Guided by state prosecutor Marisa Edwards, the senior Henry recounted the horror that took form from September 5th, 2020 when word spread that the two cousins were missing.

He said he left home at 04:45 am for work as a cane harvester, and returned just about midday, when his wife, who is now deceased, informed him of the situation.

The father said he did not see his son that morning. Together with his other son and Isaiah’s friend, the parents set out to find the two cousins, perusing the No. 2 and No. 3 Backdams. The search being futile, Gladstone told the court that they resumed the following day, with him soliciting the assistance of his workmates. After combing the No. 2 Backdam leading into Cotton Tree Backdam, he disclosed that they stumbled upon the motionless body of his son.

The senior Henry said Isaiah’s throat was slit, his shirt was pulled up halfway, and his hands were over his head. Amidst his shock, the father told the court that he stood guard until the police arrived, ensuring that no one touched his son’s body. The police, he noted, arrived late, and examined the corpse, then took evidence before escorting the body out of the location with a tractor. On September 9, he accompanied other relatives to the Memorial Gardens where he identified his son’s body. He said he did not witness the post-mortem.

Cross-examined by the defense’s attorney Dexter Todd, Henry confirmed that the area had a lot of coconuts and mangoes, and that he saw a bag of coconuts. Further probed, he stated that his son usually visited the backdam and would return with mangoes and coconuts. He confirmed that farmlands in the backdam are not formally secured. He said they operated on family land, while neighbors own the nearby land. Of the two murdered boys, Isaiah frequented the lands more, and Joel had only accompanied him that day, the father told the court.

Other testimonies were given on Friday by three ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), including Detective Inspector Shane James, of CID Major Crimes Unit. Under cross examination from the defense, he denied that any of the accused was forced into confession.

On Thursday, Lyris Fullerton, relative of the deceased told the court that the boys frequented her yard to play cricket, as they lived not too far from her at No.3 Village, West Coast Berbice. She recalled that on September 5, 2020, she was taking a nap after returning from the market, when a child came and told her something bad had happened. She then accompanied Isaiah’s mother on a search after word went around that the two cousins were missing. Checks were made at the No.2 Dam where Isaiah, the younger of the two, was said to often visit. Persons at that location said they were unsure of his whereabouts. A report was made to the police.

On September 6, the woman and others proceeded to the backdam. By afternoon, the party advanced through the terrain via tractor. Shortly after, a group confirmed that they had made the gruesome discovery of the boys. She recalled that Isaiah’s jersey was pulled halfway up, and his hands were over his head.

Following her testimony Winston Henry, cousin to both murdered boys took the stand. He confirmed that he was among relatives who visited the Memorial Gardens to identify the body of Isaiah on September 9th. However, he was not present in the room for the post-mortem examination.

Indeerjeet Singh, another witness of No. 3 Village, West Coast Berbice, said Isaiah grew up in a home just behind him, and that he and the boy’s father were friends. Singh recounted that on the morning of September 5, 2020, he, his son and brother-in-law left home at 6:30 am to visit the backdam with a tractor. He said he saw the two boys walking towards the backdam. He said they had a bicycle, but was unsure where they were headed. The cousins appeared normal, without injuries or physical wounds. After observing them at ‘Train Line’, he said he never saw them again.

Closing off Thursday’s testimonies was Corporal Nelci Whyte. The officer said she was stationed at the Fort Wellington Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the time, functioning as CID investigator and crime scene technician.

Whyte noted that on September 6, 2020, upon arrival on the scene, Joel was observed face down in a man hole, wearing a black long pants on the wrong side, and a green long sleeve jersey with white stripe. He had a wound behind the neck, under the chin, and injuries to his left hand, with his left side face swollen. She said nothing of evidential value was found in the man hole. About 150 ft. from Joel, Isaiah’s body was discovered among some bushes surrounded by coconut trees, while blood was seen on some leaves. He was wearing a 3/4 pants turned on the wrong side, and lying on the ground, feet in the southern direction with both arms above his head. A long-sleeve jersey covered his face. Pulling the jersey downwards, she observed injuries to his entire face and under his neck.

Both teens were motionless. Whyte then took photographs of the scene, and the bodies were escorted from the location. On Sep 7, 2020, she revisited the scene with two assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) and two corporals, where they further processed the scene, took blood samples and 22 photographs.

Todd then pressed for confirmation on what role Whyte played on the day in question- whether it was a crime scene investigator or a crime scene photographer, to which she confirmed on the latter. Probing further, the defense counsel sought why the crime scene was not preserved, pointing to the absence of crime scene equipment in the 22 court exhibits of the scene. Whyte also acknowledged that she did not take any statement at the crime scene, and that she arrived after civilians. She said she inquired from civilians if the scene was tampered with. The answer was documented, but Whyte responded that it was not in her possession.

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• Anil Sanchara, Henry boys, murder trial, Vinood Gopaul

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