Japanese pan player strangled in T&T

(Trinidad Guardian) Autopsy results today revealed that Japanese pan player Asami Nagakiya was strangled.

On Ash Wednesday the body of the masquerader was found at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.

Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya was strangled.
Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya was strangled.

Homicide detectives were able to confirm her identity on Wednesday night, having sought the public’s assistance earlier, after her body was found under a tree around 9.30 am.

According to reports, Geoff Adams, of Tamana, was walking through the area when he noticed a homeless man screaming while pointing at a patch of bushes.

The discovery was made mere metres away from Queen’s Royal College and the Maraval Road roundabout, as crews from the Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (Cepep) were busy cleaning up rubbish left over from Carnival celebrations.

The area was cordoned off by police for several hours as crime scene investigators combed through heaps of discarded food and beverage containers, which surrounded Nagakiya, for evidence. Nagakiya was found lying face down and was subsequently taken to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, where an autopsy was performed today by forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov.

Nagakiya and some of her friends made headlines over the years as they traditionally visit T&T to play in the National Panorama competitions, including with former champions Phase II Pan Groove and PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars. She was playing with the band Legacy up until Tuesday.