Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

The body of the Trinidadian soldier, who died during a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) battle-fitness test last week is still awaiting repatriation pending the release of his post-mortem results to Trinidadian authorities.

JDF Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, told The Gleaner that the army had the report, but was yet to discuss it with their Trinidadian counterparts. He said the body would be repatriated after the report was issued and logistical arrangements ironed out with Trinidad.

Suspicion

The Trinidad Express newspaper had reported yesterday that the family of 41-year-old Corporal Leonard Sylvester was questioning the circumstances of his death, claiming that they had been promised that his body would be returned on Friday, following the autopsy the day before.

However, Rear Admiral Lewin said, "There have been formalities that have to be gone through. When someone collapses and dies, you don't just pick them up and send them back home."

The 21-year veteran of the Trinidadian Regiment, who was a student on a noncommissioned officer course at the Newcastle Training Depot, collapsed last Tuesday and was attended to by JDF medics before being airlifted to the University Hospital of the West Indies where he was pronounced dead about 7:40 a.m.