12 years on…Case of Akiel Chambers to be reopened in T&T

(Trinidad Guardian) New information has surfaced more than 12 years after the mysterious death of 11-year-old Akiel Chambers and Government is moving to reopen the police investigation into his death. This was confirmed yesterday by Gender Youth and Child Development Minister Marlene Coudray during yesterday’s weekly post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

On Wednesday during her contribution to the Senate debate on the 2013 budget, Coudray said there should be a call for the police to reopen investigations into the killing. Chambers’ body was found floating in a swimming pool at the Haleland Park, Maraval, home of Charles and Annelore James on May 24, 1998 after a birthday party. He was molested sexually.

No one saw Akiel bathe in the pool but when his body mysteriously surfaced the following day, Akiel was wearing a man’s swimming trunks. No one was charged as DNA samples were lost following police investigations. Many people had been calling for justice to be done in the matter.