The Mahdia dormitory fire court case is set to continue on July 22, with the presentation of the final set of post-mortem examinations in court, along with testimonies from the remaining witnesses.
Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd, who represents the accused, confirmed to Stabroek News on Friday, that the trial was in its final stages. He revealed that the samples sent to Barbados for testing had been returned to Guyana, and the post-mortem examination results were ready for presentation.
In a notable development, the state has reinforced its legal team by adding two new prosecutors to the case. Prosecutor Latchmi Rahamat and Senior Police Legal Advisor Mandel Moore have joined the prosecution team, bringing additional legal expertise and support as the trial moves towards its conclusion.
The tragic incident, which occurred on May 21, 2023 at about 22:50 hrs sent shockwaves through the nation. At the time of the fire, 63 girls were reportedly in the dormitory. There were 20 deaths; 14 children died inside the building, five died at the Mahdia District Hospital, and one died on the way to Georgetown.
The fire claimed the lives of Sherana Daniels, twin sisters Mary and Martha Dandrade, Bibi Rita Jeffrey, Sabrina John, Loreen Evans, Belnisa Evans, Omefia Edwin, Natalie Bellarmine, Andrea Roberts, Lorita Williams, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniels, Eulanda Carter, Lisa Roberts, Cleoma Simon, Tracil Thomas, and sisters Delecia Edwards and Arianna Edwards along with five-year-old Adonijah Jerome, the son of the caretaker.
One of their peers, who was 15 years old at the time, has been charged with murder.
