Latest update May 14th, 2026 12:35 AM
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Defense, main witness clash in heated Henry boys murder trial
By Shermon Hawker
Kaieteur Sports – Cross-examination intensified at the Berbice High Court on Wednesday as defense attorney Dexter Todd and prosecution witness Akash Singh engaged in a fiery courtroom exchange during the ongoing trial into the 2020 killings of cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry.
The two waged an unrelenting back-and-forth, with Todd drilling his points in accusing Singh of being untruthful. The witness promptly pushed back with much sturdiness against the lawyer’s insinuations. None of the men budged from their position, as the two accused sat and watched on pensively.
Anil Sanchara and Vinood Gopaul, the two accused of murdering Isaiah and Joel Henry back in 2020.
Todd is leading the legal battle to vindicate Anil Sanchara, 39, called ‘Magga’, of D’Edward Village West Coast Berbice, and Vinood Gopaul, 35, called ‘Dan Pole’ and ‘Rasta’of Yakasari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, both of whom have pleaded not guilty.
Todd’s cross-examination of Singh continued on Wednesday in the widely followed trial into the killings of the Henry boys, after proceedings were paused Tuesday by presiding Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall. During Tuesday’s hearing, Singh repeatedly told the court he was unable to answer several of Todd’s questions, citing lapses in memory.
However, when cross-examination resumed on Wednesday, Singh responded to Todd almost point-for-point, appearing far more forthcoming than he had been the previous day, when he frequently claimed he could not recall details.
Todd suggested to the court that Singh’s recollection of events was strategically fabricated, adding that he never went into the Cotton Tree Backdam to plant weed with the two accused. Singh argued that he was present, and was even tasked with demolishing camp after the trio had executed the two cousins. The attorney put forward that Singh was beaten by the police upon arrest in January of 2021, which Singh denied, “no police never hurt me.” When it was put to him that he was heard screaming, Singh dismissed it instantly, “I was screaming? I never scream. Wuh I screaming fuh? Nobody ain’t do me nothing fuh I scream.”
Isaiah and Joel Henry
The lawyer inserted that the reason Singh was unable to recall critical details of 2020 was because he was lying, and that the weed-planting activity was a ruse presented to the court, “because you were promised by the police.”
“Everything wuh I telling everybody is true. I know I was in Cotton Tree Backdam to plant marijuana with Gopaul and Anil Sanchara,” Singh emphasised to the court.
Pressing further, Todd inquired if Singh was promised a change in fortune for his testimony against Gopaul and Sanchara. The attorney asked if he was assured of walking free. Singh himself is currently in police custody in relation to the offense, but he maintained that he was not given any offers for his testimony. Instead, Singh noted that he came to present facts to the court.
Singh confirmed that upon arrest, he was taken to the CID headquarters in Georgetown. Todd asked the key witness if he in his statement to the police, disclosed being beaten at the CID. Singh submitted that he did say he was beaten, but noted that it was only due to being threatened by Vinood and Sanchara into saying so. The two men, he added, pushed allegations of being assaulted by the police, and they wanted him to hold similar claims.
He explained that from the inception, he was an unwilling accomplice who was threatened with death by the two, which even prompted him to not make disclosures about the threats to the police, prison officers, nor when he appeared at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court back in 2021.
Wrapping up his cross-examination, the defense counsel probed Singh on whether he arrived at the Berbice High Court on Wednesday from Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown. Singh stated, “I come out of jail,” while not offering details of which facility.
The defense held that Singh did not appear in the capacity of an inmate, but was secured by the police under unknown arrangements.
Re-examined by the prosecutor, the witness explained that he could not disclose his location, as Gopaul would constantly find ways to call and threaten him.
As the main witness, Singh’s testimony was by far the most extensive, as the prosecution has signalled intention to utilise 44 witnesses for the trial into the 2020 killings.
The matter continues on Thursday.
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