‘I was only trying to save my baby’

The 20-year-old woman who fatally stabbed to death her 14-year-old cousin at Tunapuna on Saturday and was ordered to be released from the custody of the police late Tuesday insisted yesterday that she was only protecting the life of her unborn child.

Shaliza Khan, who is eight months pregnant with her first child, is due to give birth on August 22. Fighting back the tears, Khan told Newsday that she never meant to kill Simone Pierre, but when she raised a bilnah (rolling pin) to strike her stomach, she retaliated to protect the life of her baby. She told Newsday that Simone was in the habit of taunting and molesting her each time they met, and on Saturday, she acted out of maternal instinct and protected her child. She said that a few months ago, she suspected that Pierre was having a relationship with her (Khan’s) boyfriend, and she questioned her about it. According to Shaliza, Pierre, who was once very close to her, turned “bitter” and began harassing, mocking and threatening her.

In recalling the incident on Saturday, Shaliza said that she was talking to her sister Kathy Ann around 2 pm when Simone started taunting her. She claimed that Pierre started singing a song by 50 Cent entitled, “Many Men” and also began threatening her. She said that Simone later went to a clothes line where she started picking up clothing while taunting her. She claimed that an argument ensued and Pierre rushed inside her home and picked up a bilnah. Khan said that Pierre told her that she was going to kill the baby and, scared for her unborn child she armed herself with an icepick. “When she charged towards me with the bilnah, a struggle ensued and I decided there and then to protect my baby at all costs. I managed to prevent Pierre from striking my stomach, and I stabbed her with the icepick.” She said that she never meant to kill her cousin and acted out of self-defence.

As tears came to her eyes, Shaliza revealed that the incident happened so quickly that she could not believe that Pierre was dead. The weeping woman said that after the incident she went into the house and began praying for Pierre’s life. She explained that police officers who arrived on the scene shortly after took her into custody and she was then informed that Pierre had died. “I wept  when I heard that my cousin was dead, and I told police officers exactly what happened.” As she waited at the Malabar Police Station, she cried and wished it was all a bad dream. As Shaliza awaited her fate she was informed that matters were in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions. But on Tuesday, police officers told her around 5.45 pm that the DPP had ordered her release. She was also told that an inquest would be held into the death. “I felt free but sad because of the death,” said Shaliza. She decided not to attend Pierre’s funeral  yesterday and waited after the burial to beg forgiveness from Pierre’s mother Jennifer. Shaliza said that Jennifer accepted her apology.

She has now focussed her attention on her unborn child and is awaiting the birth. Her boyfriend and father of the child, Arnold Louison, who was wanted on a warrant for failing to pay the court, was sent to prison three weeks ago. Shaliza said that attempts are being made to secure the $7,000 owed to the court to be paid so Louison could be released. She said that she needs all the support she could get now repeating that she is not a killer but rather an expectant mother who was only protecting the life of her innocent child. Police investigators said yesterday that they are now in the process of putting the file together and are awaiting a date to be set for the inquest.