A pujari is expected to be charged soon in connection with the death of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran, Region Five Commander, Senior Superintendent Lonsdale Whithrite, has said.

Speaking with Ignite News, Whithrite said investigators are carrying out additional work on the case file before it is resubmitted to prosecutors.

He also confirmed that the child’s missing limbs have not been recovered, dismissing claims that his head had been found in an ice cooler.

The update comes after Orlando was laid to rest on Friday, October 23, the same day his father, 45-year-old cane harvester Bharrat Jaikarran, appeared in court charged with his murder.

Jaikarran appeared before Magistrate Shareefah Parks at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison.

During the hearing, Jaikarran indicated that he wanted to speak. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards objected, telling the court that the accused had already confessed and that the proceedings were not a trial.

Jaikarran also alleged that he had been beaten while in police custody.

Edwards told the court that the file concerning Jaikarran had been completed and legal advice sought, while investigations into another suspect were continuing.

The matter was transferred to the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court for a report on November 12.

Orlando’s body was discovered in the Waterloo Main Canal near the sea dam at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, in the early hours of Tuesday, October 20.

According to police, preliminary investigations indicate that the child was taken to the canal on October 15 and allegedly struck in the neck with a cutlass.

Police said further enquiries on October 20 led to the recovery of items of potential evidential value at the location where the alleged killing occurred.

Investigators also searched a residence at Bath Settlement, seizing six cutlasses and other items.

Police have not established publicly whether any of those items was used in the alleged killing.

A post-mortem examination conducted on October 21 was inconclusive.