An autopsy yesterday revealed that nine-year-old Shaquan Gittens whose half-naked and bound body was found in a trench in South Ruimveldt on Saturday, died as a result of a compression injury to the neck and asphyxiation due to drowning.
Gittens, of 2950 Well Road, North Ruimveldt went missing last Wednesday and his body was found on Saturday half-naked and bound in a trench running alongside a dam just off of Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt. The boy was clad only in the t-shirt he was last seen in and his hands were tied together with rope. From all indications, he was the victim of a sexual assault prior to his death.
When Stabroek News spoke with relatives of the child yesterday, they were still trying to cope with all that had happened. Pamela Bacchus, an aunt of Gittens, related the results of the autopsy and said that she was present to witness it but fainted constantly.
Other relatives said that they were not informed nor noticed anything in relation to Gittens being molested.
In a press release, the police said that a man is in custody assisting with investigations.
A wake was held last night at the South Ruimveldt Park Primary School in remembrance of Gittens and he will be laid to rest tomorrow.
