Crime
Questions about Inquest so long after Marie Kuhnla’s Death
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, June 16, 2022 – A coroner’s inquest is a legal inquiry into the cause and circumstances of a death; and the Turks and Caicos Government at the start of the month opened one into the death of Marie Kuhnla. She was a tourist from Long Island who was found dead on the property of Club Med in 2018. The question is why now?
Kuhnla’s family says they think it’s a stalling tool intended to derail a ten million dollar wrongful death lawsuit filed against Club Med or a way to save face.
A seven member jury was formed to listen to evidence in the inquest. Under UK law a jury is convened for a coroner’s inquest under specific circumstances including:
- the death was unnatural;
- the death was sudden or unexpected; or,
- the death was in other suspicious circumstances.
The reasons behind the inquest remain murky and no communication ha come immediately from the Government about the incident; at least not until the inquest concluded.
So for days on end, there was no explanation about why the coroner’s inquest was opened so long after the death.
What is clear though is that the TCI court system finds the case important enough to warrant spending money and putting resources behind reopening what happened to Kuhnla.
Attorney General for the Turks and Caicos Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles told Magnetic Media she intended to make a statement at ‘the appropriate time’ but could not do so now because the matter was under judicial consideration and it ‘would not be appropriate to comment’. It is not unusual that matters under judicial consideration restrict comment from the judiciary.
Kuhnla’s family attorney, Abe George told I-Team, an NBC Media team on island covering the inquest, “They suggested essentially that Marie Khunla tripped and fell into the sand and killed herself which is the most ludicrous theory based off the evidence we have seen,” said George.
The coroner in the case is sticking to his initial findings which say Marie was murdered by manual strangulation, he also leveled accusations of criminal liability against an unnamed morgue employee who he said intentionally “decided that she was going to place this specific decedent (Kuhnla) under a heated exhaust fan” the coroner says this was not appropriate treatment.
No viable DNA could be recovered from a rape kit performed on Marie Kuhnla’s body when the coroner arrived.
Her son has described the inquest as a “sham” and “rubbing salt in the wound”
On June 7th, Susan Wallace the investigative journalist covering the event said NBC news NY had been refused virtual access to the trial after covering in person.
#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – Detectives of the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have
charged a man who allegedly stole a vehicle.
The accused, DANVANTE BRISCO, 30, of Kew Town, Providenciales, was charged with:
- One Count: Robbery
- One Count: Taking Motor Vehicle Without Authority
- One Count: Using Offensive Weapon to cause fear
Mr. BRISCO appeared in court today (May 13 ) and was granted bail of $7500.00 with one surety.
The matter was adjourned to July 05 for a Sufficiency Hearing.
#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – A 20-year-old Dock Yard male appeared in court today (May 13th) charged with a series of firearm-related offences.
The accused, JAMES SIMON, was denied bail and remanded into custody pending a Sufficiency Hearing scheduled for July 05th, 2024.
Mr. SIMON faces the following charges:
- One Count: Robbery;
- One Count: Gang Membership
- One Count: Possession of a Firearm for the Benefit of a Gang
- One Count: Possession of Ammunition for the Benefit of a Gang.
The charges against Mr. Simon followed investigations by officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force into a robbery at the parking lot of a Casino where three males robbed a victim.
Additionally, Mr. Simon is charged with the following offences, having been arrested on May 02nd, 2024, along South Dock Road.
- One Count: Possession of a Firearm
- One Count: Possession of Ammunition
- One Count: Unlawful Entry
Officers also charged a teenage minor who was in the company of Mr. Simon on May 02nd with One Count of UNLAWFUL ENTRY.
The accused, seventeen and from Kew Town, Providenciales, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on May 20th.
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