Yet again, the autopsy to be performed on the body of Canadian Jean Pierre Leblanc, who died suddenly two weeks after he was shot in the buttocks when Ricardo Rodrigues was slain, has been deferred.
The autopsy was scheduled for yesterday, after two postponements, but Stabroek News turned up at the Georgetown Public Hospital Morgue to find that once again it had been postponed.
“We are awaiting word from the Canadian embassy,” said one official. Efforts yesterday to contact Canadian High Commission officials proved futile.
On Wednesday the Canadian High Commission had said, “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of a Canadian who passed away in Guyana. Canadian consular officials are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to the family.”
When contacted, Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell confirmed that no relative had turned up to identify the body. He said he understands that arrangements are being made with the Canadian High Commission to have the autopsy done on Monday.
Sources told this newspaper that given the sudden death of the man, an autopsy was required by the police to ascertain if there was foul play. However, before this can be done a relative of the man must make a positive identification of the body.
Relatives of the man had said that they were in communication with the Canadian High Commission and that the embassy would overlook the autopsy, after which the body would be sent to them in Canada for burial.
However, sources here said that identifying the body does not fall within the purview of the Canadian High Commission. They added too that while the embassy can make arrangements to have the body prepared by a funeral home and sent overseas it was unclear who would bear the costs.
A city attorney was also hired to look into Le Blanc’s interest, Stabroek News was told, but for this to be done through him requires written permission from the relatives. It is unclear if the paperwork needed will be available for the next scheduled date on Monday.
In the meantime, staff at the hospital morgue voiced concerns. “By the time they ready to cut this man he going to done start decomposing. We can’t understand what happening here. Dey saying ask the police; the police saying ask the embassy and like the embassy clueless as to what happens,” one staff member said.
