An autopsy which was done on the body of Melissa Soman yesterday revealed that she died from drowning and blunt force trauma to the head.
Additionally, the autop-sy also confirmed that Soman, 17, also known as ‘Lisa,’ was pregnant.
The mother of a two-year-old son was returning home from the Berbice River around 8. 30 pm last Wednesday when her boy-friend reportedly attacked her with a piece of wood, causing her to fall over-board and drown.
Police said yesterday that Dr. Nehaul Singh carried out the autopsy at Le Repentir Crematorium.
Her father, Paul Soman, who traveled to George-town to witness the autopsy, yesterday stated that the autopsy confirmed that his daughter was indeed pregnant. Addi-tionally, he said, they were relieved that the cause of Soman’s death was revealed.
A police source yester-day stated that investiga-tors will now seek legal advice in order to prepare charges.
Soman’s boyfriend, Dequan Adams, 22, has since confessed to assault-ing the young woman with a piece of wood, causing her to fall overboard.
The suspect had related to investigators that he, Soman and a relative of his, who is also in police custody, were at a birthday party, when he noticed Soman dancing with the relative, which led to him using a piece of wood to assault Soman.
Soman then proceeded to the relative’s boat, where the suspect then continued to assault Soman and the relative.
However, it is claimed, that Soman then jumped overboard to escape the beating and was rescued by the relative, after which the boyfriend continued to assault them with the piece of wood, causing Soman to fall overboard for a second time. She later disappeared under the water.
The suspect also told investigators that Soman was having a relationship with the relative in custody, who was residing with them, and that she was two months pregnant.
During questioning, the relative in custody con-firmed the suspect’s claims, while noting that Soman had told him she was having problems with the suspect.
On Sunday police returned to the scene with the two men in custody and they obtained a detailed report of where the assault transpired.
Soman is expected to be laid to rest in New Amster-dam on Friday.
