BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALTHOUGH an autopsy found that the cause of Jason Gillard’s death was as a result of third degree burns, a Coroner’s Inquest is expected to be held.
Gillard, 34, was burnt to death on September 21, 2009 while he was in his Upper College Street Ghaut. After fire officers were successful in their battle with the blaze, they made a check in the house and discovered Gillard’s badly burnt body in a bedroom on the seaward side of the house.
His remains were removed and, on Wednesday, September 23, an autopsy was performed by resident Pathologist Dr. Adrian Nunez Quintana, who, according a police press release, said Gillard’s death was as a result of “third degree burns to 100% of the body surface”.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Police Press and Public Relations Officer Inspector Cromwell Henry explained that, for now, the results of the post mortem suggest that foul play is not an ingredient in Gillard’s death. He further explained however, that a Coroner’s Inquest would have to be conducted to determine whether or not foul play was a factor in his death.
“A Coroner’s Inquest is held to determine how, when and by what means a person came to his or her death. It is presided over by the Magistrate, who, for that sitting, is called the Coroner and is assisted by a panel of five jurors who would hear evidence surrounding the circumstances of the person’s death and would give their findings as to whether or not the death was caused by misadventure or by culpable homicide,” Henry said.
The Inspector further explained that a Coroner’s Inquest is required by law “for every unnatural death where no one has been charged. For example, when people die in traffic accidents, death by fire and whenever a person dies in police custody. The death would not be ruled as a result of misadventure or otherwise until the Coroner’s court hears the evidence and gives its findings.”
Investigations into Gillard’s death are ongoing.
