Emily’s father cries

JASON WALKER, who says he is the father of murdered Emily Anamanthodo cannot recall the last time he saw the child.

As the country reacted in horror to the brutality inflicted on this innocent child, the man claiming to be her biological father, who lives in Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, about six miles from where Emily used to live with her mother, expressed the wish to, “hold my baby for one last time.” Walker, 25, spoke to Newsday at his Jean Street home. Admitting that for the past four years he had seen Emily only on four occasions.

“I would turn back the hands of time to have my daughter alive. Honestly, I was not a part of my daughter’s life. I have seen my daughter four times in four years, but I cannot recall the dates.”

Walker said he separated from the child’s mother mere months after Emily was born. The father said that he once visited Emily at the San Fernando General Hospital. “I visited her after learning that she was warded for some injuries. I remember seeing red marks on her skin, bruises.” Walker said he sought answers, but he remained unconvinced. Told that his daughter was being physically abused, Walker said: “Many persons met and told me what was happening to my daughter. But I knew I had no say because I never really used to support her.”

Walker admitted hearing that his daughter had been shoved down a flight of stairs and she lost her front teeth. “It used to hurt me but I never wanted to get involved because I knew I would have gotten in trouble. I would have been behind bars today,” Walker said. Yesterday, he purchased a dress for the child to be buried in today.