By CECILY ASSON Wednesday, November 4 2009

AUTOPSIES on the bodies of the four Penal men who on Sunday collapsed and died after drinking homemade wine confirmed they all died from poisoning.

However investigators said samples of body fluids have been sent for further testing at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, where the autopsies were carried out.

On Sunday evening, Winston Seelal, 56, his nephew Nazim Mohammed, 42, who both lived in Rampersad Trace, Rochard Road, Penal along with friends Mahadeo “Lover Boy” Roopchan, 41, a welder/straightener of Debie Trace, Rochard Road, and carpenter Ramdeo “Boya” Jugmohan, 49, of Ramsingh Trace, Rochard Road were liming at Seelal’s home where reports said they ate food and drank homemade wine.

Following the death of the men, police seized a bottle containing a paint additive from Seelal’s home and also questioned an elderly villager from whom the men had earlier purchased homemade wine. The elderly man was later released after giving a statement to police.

According to a report, at about 10.45 pm on Sunday, the bodies of Seelal and Mohammed were found close to each other while Roopchan’s body was found a short distance away. Police said the men were already dead.

Jugmohan who was found frothing from the mouth was rushed to hospital where he died a short while later. Yesterday relatives were busy making funeral arrangements for the four men.