DNA testing of samples taken from remains suspected to be those of missing witness Colin Rodney Jr has been completed and the results are expected to be handed over to the police soon, Director of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) Delon France says.
France, during an invited comment yesterday, told Stabroek News that the results are currently being reviewed.
“…We have completed the test and are currently going through the review process in accordance with our quality management system outlined in the international standards documents for laboratory testing,” he explained.
France refused to divulge any further information.
The samples were handed over to the GFSL sometime in the first half of November.
Crime Chief (ag) Michael Kingston had previously told Stabroek News that the GFSL would be conducting the DNA testing to determine whether samples taken from the charred remains are indeed those of Rodney.
France had related that the GFSL was capable of doing the needed DNA testing and therefore the samples would not have to be sent overseas.
In November, France had said that the results of the DNA tests could be known within a month or less.
He had explained that the timeframe for the results of testing of any samples submitted to the lab is usually one month.
He had, 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,” he had said.
However, the one-month period has already elapsed.
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 later confirmed that the burnt car belonged to Rodney.
On the day of his disappearance, Rodney was scheduled to attend the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 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.
Rodney Jr was last seen alive when he departed his home around 7.45 am on October 25th in his car.
Jacqueline Hunter, his mother, has said she believes the remains are those of her son. “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 wants 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.
