Part 5: Akiel died in "Haunted House"
One thing which Charles James would like to see is justice for 11-year-old Akiel Chambers, who was found dead in his swimming pool at his Haleland Park, Maraval home, on May 24, 1998.
James, a businessman, does not believe that Akiel drowned and feels that some “sick person” was behind the boy’s death ten years ago.
James feels that the answer is right in his house, that Akiel’s ghost is crying out for someone to take up the case. As far as James is concerned, Akiel did not sexually molest himself, Akiel did not suffocate himself, and Akiel did not carry his body to the pool.
James was one of the many persons who gave evidence before Coroner Sherman Mc Nicolls in 2004.
He remembered that one year after Akiel’s death, his ex-wife Annelore experienced nightmares and made funny noises at night. He said his former wife also complained that the lights and television were going on for themselves and that their matrimonial home at 23 Balata Terrace was haunted. As far as he was concerned, his house is not haunted.
James said there are so many unanswered questions relating to Akiel’s death that maybe, “the boy flew off an avocado tree into his pool.” James said that on May 23, 1998, he left home around 10.30 am to attend races at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. He did not know that his wife was hosting a party at their home on that day. He said that three weeks before, his wife asked his permission to host a pool party for his daughter Carrie, but he said no, that it was dangerous having a pool party. On his return to his home around 8 pm that day, James said he remembered seeing a woman sitting in the entrance of the driveway.
“I said good evening. I opened the door and went inside. I cannot recall if the woman responded. My wife was in the kitchen when I passed through. I went straight to my room.
James said his wife never told him that someone was missing. He said he awoke around five o’clock the next morning and left 35 minutes later for the paddock at Santa Rosa Park and his farm in Arima. James said his wife did not come to bed that night. He could not recall seeing his wife before leaving for Santa Rosa where he remained at the paddock until 10 am. He then went to his farm where he stayed until midday before proceeding to the home of a friend in Arima where he stayed until 2 pm.
James returned to his Maraval residence at 2.45 pm. When asked by the coroner if he had a cell phone, James said yes. He said his phone was on and even if the reception was bad in the area, he was a member of the Betting Levy Board and the PA system at Arima would have relayed a message to him. When he arrived home, James said he saw a marked police jeep in front of his driveway.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that my daughter (Chantal) was in an accident. She had just gotten her driver’s licence. I parked my car, opened the kitchen door and I saw my wife and two policemen sitting around the table.
“The first thing I asked was what happened to Chantal? My wife turned and tell me to sit down. She said ‘you are not going to believe this’ and I asked ‘believe what?’ She said they (the police) found a body in the pool. I asked what body? She said there was a party here and this boy drowned in the pool.”
James said he got very angry, opened the door and visited the pool area. He looked into the pool.
“It was clear as day; you could see a pin at the bottom of the pool.”
James went back inside and asked what had happened.
“I started to question my wife. I wanted to know what was going on. How could a body just turn up in the pool. What time was this party? The information I got was that he was missing since six o’clock on Saturday.”
James said the police stated that they came to his house on Saturday night and checked his pool.
“I said, you came to my house, checked my pool, and told me nothing? I turned to my wife and asked her why I was not told. She said it was not important enough to tell me because the boy was only missing. I turned to the two policemen and told them that the boy did not drown in my pool, because if he had drowned in my pool, it was too clear for no one to see what happened.”
James said he asked the policemen to take samples from his pool to determine whether the water found in Akiel’s lungs was the same. He then went to Henry Street to look for Akiel’s relatives.
“When I got there, a big strong woman came to the door. I told her that I came to pay my respects for what had happened. She told me that I was with the white woman at the police station. I asked the woman if she was sure. Another woman came up and said no, it was not me. I offered to help the family with funeral expenses and I left.”
James said he returned home around 5 pm and asked his wife who was with her at the police station. He said he found out it was one Trevor Craigwell, a parent who attended the party the afternoon before. He said he was never interviewed by the police. He never gave a statement in the matter.
When asked by the coroner if he had anything further to say, James replied: “After a year, my wife tell me she cannot live here anymore, that the lights and the television come on for themselves and that the house is haunted. I told her I never experienced that and the house was not haunted.”
James continued: “There are a lot of unanswered questions to this incident. Something is wrong. The court should get to the bottom of this. My wife used to scream out in the night. She used to make funny noises. I feel the boy flew off an avocado tree and into the pool,” James added.
es. I feel the boy flew off an avocado tree and into the pool,” James added.
Patrick Young was another parent to give evidence before the coroner.
An accountant by profession, Young accompanied his son Mikhail and daughter to a party for Carrie James at Haleland Park on May 23, 1998. He did admit lending his son’s swimming trunks to Akiel before he left the party. Young, who is married, said he met Akiel through his son, both of whom attended Blackman’s Private School in Maraval. He admitted giving Akiel a drop from school on three occasions in the same month in which Akiel died. But he denied ever dropping Akiel to school on mornings. Although he worked at 119 Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, Young said he never knew that Akiel lived at 80-82 Henry Street. On arrival at the James’ residence, Young and his children were greeted by party hostess Annelore James.
At that time, there were about 25 to 30 children, some of whom were already in the swimming pool. He sat at the side of the pool and supervised the children. The coroner wanted to know who asked Young to supervise the children. Young’s reply was “nobody gave me that responsibility. My responsibility was for my children and the other children. There were no life guards available. Common sense told me to supervise the children. It was risky having children there unsupervised.”
Young said he was introduced to Akiel at his son’s school some time before the party. On May 23, 1998, Young admitted speaking to Akiel on that day. He said Akiel approached his son and asked if he had a spare swimming trunks. When told there was none, Akiel walked off. Young remembered seeing Akiel around the pool, but was sure that the boy was never in the water. By 5 pm, Mrs James was ready to stick the cake. By that time, Young said there were about 50 children and six parents, including Trevor Craigwell and Terrence Mc Clean. After the cake was stuck, Young said most of the children returned to the pool.
“Mrs James was in the kitchen. She told me that she did not prepare for so many children and parents. She remained in the kitchen for most of the time. I can’t recall seeing her around the pool.”
Young said when the cake was stuck, he did not see Akiel. About 5.30 pm, Young told his son to come out of the pool as it was time to leave.
“I telephoned my wife to tell her what time we would be coming. My wife was concerned that my children were at the pool party and that they could not swim. My children changed their clothes. Akiel came over to where we were sitting at the side of the pool and asked my son to use his swimming trunks. Mikhail told him ‘you will have to ask my dad.’”
Young said okay to which Akiel promised to return it the following Monday. He said Akiel took the trunks and walked across the pool to the changing room area. Young then told Mrs James that they were leaving. He said that around 6.30 pm, he received a call from Mrs James asking if Akiel left with him.
“I said no. She said they were searching and they couldn’t find him.”
Around 12.30 am, Young said someone from the Maraval Police Station called and asked him some “random” questions. When asked by the coroner what were the questions, Young said he could not remember.
“How could you not remember what the police asked you?” Mc Nicolls asked.
Young replied: “My father was killed two days before on the 21st by a maxi-taxi. An ex-con ran into my car. I had a lot on my mind to be remembering the questions.”
But Mc Nicolls was not impressed. He called on Young to try and remember the questions. Young said questions which the police asked were like, “what time he left the party. What time he reached home etc.”
Young said the police asked those questions because they were searching for Akiel.
The following day, Young said Craigwell called him to say that they found Akiel at the bottom of the pool.
“My wife answered the phone and passed it to me. I turned pale.” Young said the water in the swimming pool on May 23, 1998 was clear. He could have seen the bottom of the pool.
The witness said he gave two statements to the police. On August 13, 1998, Young said PC Clive Alvarez came to his office with the swim trunks. “He asked me if this was the pants my son had on. I said yes. The conversation was short. That was it, really.”
Young said he never asked Akiel if he could swim. He said there were at least 20 children in the pool who could not swim, including his son and daughter. Young said the parents at the party were drinking beer and Johnny Walker Black whiskey, contrary to what Mrs James said days before that only wine was being served.
Young said he did not find it odd that Akiel asked his son for his swimming trunks. He said he left the party before Akiel was discovered missing. He said it was a surprise to hear that Mrs James stated that he (Young) was present when Akiel went missing. Young denied telling Mrs James that he lent his son’s swimming trunks to Akiel.
“I don’t know why Mrs James would invent that.” He also denied assisting in the search for the missing boy. Before he completed his testimony, Young wanted one question answered. “Did Mrs James say what time I left the party?”
