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SOURCE: ANTIGU OBSERVER- Attorney Wendel Alexander is demanding that an immediate Coroner’s Inquest and a homicide investigation should be held in relation to the death of 23-year-old Jamaican national Chinlee Robinson, who died in January 2025 while in custody at His Majesty’s Prison.
Alexander said a preliminary autopsy raises serious concerns after it revealed that Robinson sustained trauma to the neck and died from anoxia — a lack of oxygen to the brain.
“There are too many unanswered questions,” he told Observer media. “A young man in his 20s, doesn’t seem to have any medical issues before going into the prison, any known medical issues before going into the prison, and dies.
Did he choke himself to death? How was his oxygen cut off and what is the reason behind it?”.
The attorney also questioned how Robinson could have been deprived of oxygen in what was reportedly the most well-ventilated part of the prison. “I’m trying to figure out the rationale behind it.”
According to the attorney, he has written to both the Commissioner of Police and the Coroner requesting that the matter be treated with urgency and that the necessary legal processes be followed.
“When there are deaths occurring in a prison facility, the Coroner’s Inquest must be convened,” he emphasized. “I am sure that a homicide investigation is one that is warranted at the prison.”
He also criticised what he called a systemic failure in the handling of forensic samples in similar cases. According to Alexander, pathologists have repeatedly advised that certain samples be sent overseas for further testing, but those recommendations have not been consistently followed — including during his own tenure as Commissioner of Police.
“Sometimes, the blame is laid on lack of resources, but if a situation is important enough, the resources will be found,” he said.
The attorney further raised concerns about class and social inequality, suggesting that Robinson’s background may have influenced the lack of urgency in the investigation. –
“It sends a certain kind of signal that the picky-haired people in Antigua and Barbuda are going into prison and with these kinds of results of death, it’s strange.
If this person was a more sophisticated individual from a more sophisticated or bourgeois family, I’m sure heads would have been rolling all now,” he said.
Meanwhile, Robinson’s death has left his family grieving and searching for answers amid what they describe as institutional indifference.
Robinson was found dead in his cell on January 24, 2025 — just one day after appearing in court, where he had been granted bail pending the surrender of his passport.
“That turned out to be the last time we saw him,” family members revealed.
They noted that during the court appearance, “he appeared to be in good spirits” and when asked, confirmed that everything was fine.
“He did not look unwell and he was never a sickly person.”
The family said they have repeatedly asked police to investigate rumours that Robinson may have been murdered, but claim their calls have gone unanswered.
“A young man has lost his life, and nobody seems to care about finding out what really happened. “We kept urging the police to check the surveillance footage at the prison,” a family member stated.
“But we were ignored, and now we fear it may be too late.”
Robinson had been on remand since December 2024 on a charge of larceny of a phone. Reports suggest rigor mortis had already set in when his body was discovered in the morning, raising concerns that no cell checks had been made for several hours.
A recent post-mortem examination confirmed that Robinson died from anoxia, trauma to the neck, and cardiac failure.
Following the examination, the pathologist reportedly spoke with a family member, asking several questions that indicated the seriousness of the case.
“He said the case could have implications,” the family member stated, adding that samples were taken for testing, though the pathologist admitted police often fail to follow up on such samples.
The family also expressed frustration at learning about Robinson’s death from a friend who saw the news before prison officials contacted them.
The 23-year-old was buried on Wednesday 16th April 2025.
The family continues to seek answers regarding the circumstances surrounding Robinson’s death while in the care of the State.
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How many more will have to die in custody before real changes happen? The government needs to step up.
Regardless of what he was in for, he was still a human being. His family deserves justice.
This system love hush-hush too much. Somebody has to be held accountable.
How does a young man just end up dead in state custody?
What does the Prision authorizes has to say about the situation?
Justice for him!! this too sad
Someone in high place wanted this guy dead, what ever he saw or what he did or what he hnow was to remain a secret. Asot was murdered, he could have been the killer
When God is ready.for the wicked
Family members, just do dem like tick when he min kill the gas station attendant.justice would be served.
As an inmate on simple larceny in the cell next to him, ive seen it all. He and another inmate got into some argument and they begun fighting in the cell. I could hear loud shuffles, until one guy said put a sheet in his mouth and tie him up. After the noise subsided , I believe at that point they suffocate him and killed him because after there was no noise or anything