The results of DNA tests to determine whether charred remains recently found in a torched car are those of Colin Rodney Jr, the key witness in an ongoing murder case, could be known within a month or less, Director of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) Delon France has said.
France, when contacted by Sunday Stabroek yesterday, explained that the timeframe for the results of testing of any samples submitted to the lab for testing is usually one month.
He, however, noted that it can be ready before.
“…That’s our maximum turnaround time for any piece of evidence that was submitted, whether drugs or whatever, any piece of evidence…but it can take less,” France said.
He added that the GFSL is capable of doing the needed DNA testing and therefore the samples will not have to be sent overseas.
Crime Chief (ag) Michael Kingston had previously told this newspaper last week that the GFSL will be conducting the DNA testing to determine whether samples taken from the charred remains are indeed those of Rodney.
The samples have already been handed over to the GFSL.
The charred remains, suspected to be those of Rodney, were found on the afternoon of November 1st in the trunk of a torched car at Letter T, Mahaicony.
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) later confirmed the burnt car belonged to Rodney.
Kingston had told this newspaper that the chassis number from the burnt car was cross referenced with the GRA’s records and there was a match.
He had previously explained that the police received a call on November 1st from an unknown individual, who informed them that a car was on fire at Letter T, Mahaicony. As a result, ranks were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, the car was found burnt beyond recognition. Upon further investigation, the charred remains were found in the trunk of the car.
An autopsy performed on the remains could not determine the cause of death,
While investigators will have to wait the results of the DNA testing to determine if the remains are indeed his, Jacqueline Hunter, his mother, had related to this newspaper that she is already confident that he is gone. “Is meh son. Is meh son. Is he car…I know marks on the car. It got a dent, is he…if you see me child,” Hunter had said.
Hunter recently said that she is worried about the time it will take before she can receive the DNA results.
She said she just want her son’s remains to be buried.
“You know what it is for a mother to lose a 36-year-old child and now he dead you can’t even get he body…? All I want is me child body to bury…. all I want is the lil remains to put in a resting place but like dah and all will be a hard thing,” the grieving woman related.
Rodney Jr was last seen alive when he departed his home around 7.45 am on October 25th in his car.
On the day of his disappearance, Rodney was scheduled to attend the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in order to be cross-examined at the preliminary inquiry (PI) into a murder charge against Osafa Grundell and James Fraser, who have been charged with the murder of Rodney’s cousin, Marlon Rodney.
