It’s suicide!

Coroner Manila Renee on Thursday ruled the cause of death of Corey Antonio Best to be suicide by hanging.

In an hour-long ruling at the Cane Gardens, St Thomas court, the coroner detailed the sequence of events leading to the death of the 33-year-old formerly of Hopefield, Charnocks, Christ Church.

She explained that the deceased’s mother Angela Best reported in February 2017 that her house had been burglarised and investigations commenced.  Corey was subsequently found on April 13 that same year with a “big rock” in his hands banging on a metal cash tin on a bridge. Police who were transporting a civilian – a minor at the time  – to court became suspicious. They stopped and asked him about the item and he responded that he was trying to get his cellular pone out of the tin as he had left the key at home. He was taken to the Oistins Police Station. The civilian corroborated the story.

At the station Station Sergeant Leslie Arthur questioned Corey about the tin.

“I buy that cash tin from a hardware store in Tudor Street, Bridgetown about three weeks ago,” Best is said to have responded. The key for the tin was later brought to the station by the deceased’s mother after he was allowed a call.

When it was opened in their presence the contents, which included credit cards, a cellular phone and cash, were discovered to be that of the Corey’s cousin David Kola, who was visiting from Canada.

He was arrested and taken to the cell.

The coroner said in the evidence given to the court “there was no evidence of anything amiss because [everything took place] at a busy police station”. She went on to explain that there was no evidence of commotion at the station after Corey who was cursing and shouting was taken to the cells.

“Nothing amiss,” Renee reiterated as she detailed other parts of the evidence before giving her ruling.

“My condolences to the family of the deceased,” the coroner said, as she closed the case which began back in November last year.