Man arrested in teen water death

Risco Batten

(CNS): A 63-year-old man from George Town has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and child cruelty in connection with the death of 14-year-old Risco Batten, who drowned while on a swimming trip last November. Police said the man was arrested on Tuesday and has since been bailed. No other details were released by the RCIPS about the case.

According to information released by police shortly after Batten drowned last year while on a trip to South Sound Cemetery Beach, there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Batten, who was in the local care system, living at Bonaventure Boys Home at the time of his death, was believed to have encountered difficulties while swimming in the ocean.

But on the first-year anniversary of his death the RCIPS revealed that the case was still open and an appeal had been made for possible witnesses. A couple pictured on images circulated in the local media came forward police confirmed yesterday.