Prelim inquiry into Fanny Mountains death begins

The preliminary inquiry into the death of 19-year-old Dillon John is underway at the Serious Offences Court, Kingstown.{{more}}

John’s body was recovered on February 5, 2014, after it was reported that he fell over a cliff the day before – following an argument with fellow farmer Alexis Baptiste, who was arrested and charged with causing the death.

On Wednesday, September 24, eight persons were called before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias to give account of details pertaining to the incident and the case.

It is alleged that John, a former student of the St Vincent Grammar School, got into a physical altercation with 35-year-old Baptiste in the Fanny Mountains, where they shared a hut for farming purposes.

After a chase ensued, John fell approximately 150 feet into a quarry, then eventually succumbed to his injuries before he could be moved to safety.

A post mortem report submitted by Dr Ronald Child stated that John’s cause of death was multiple trauma, which caused both external and internal injuries.

The deceased’s grandfather, a former police officer, was also present at Court. Noel John had previously spoken to SEARCHLIGHT refuting some of the claims made by the defendant and other witnesses regarding his grandson’s death.

In an article dated Tuesday, February 11, 2014, the older John said claims made about the deceased being in a drunken state when he returned to Fanny Mountains were false.(JSV)