The remains of 57-year-old Inshan Ally whose body was fished out of a canal in Goed Fortuin was yesterday exhumed to facilitate a post mortem examination.
The examination has revealed that Ally died as a result of asphyxiation due to drowning and blunt trauma to the head.
However, as police continue their investigation they are trying to establish whether the hit to the head was as a result of Ally plunging into the trench or if it was inflicted by someone.
Up to press time yesterday two persons were still in police custody assisting with investigations.
Some residents had told this newspaper that the word around the village is that Ally was beaten.
Ally was last seen alive on Wednesday of last week.
On Friday around 6:45hrs his swollen body was pulled from a canal not far from where he lived.