Murdered woman, daughter buried

The funeral service which was attended by family, friends and President Anthony Carmona heard an impassioned plea from Fr Martin Sirju for the police to bring the killers to justice. Also at the service, son of the elder Bernard, Lester Bernard told mourners that people are running scared in this country because of crime.

Mother and daughter were chopped and stabbed to death in their house which was also ransacked.

Delivering the eulogy for his mother and sister, Bernard said, “People are scared to live in this country. These murders pull on the heartstrings of everyone. I cannot combat the anger I feel, the hate, the regret...someone has ripped my heart out. It has been an emotional roller-coaster.” “People are no longer safe. My mom and sister were forcefully taken by an animal or animals,” he said, adding that the murderers took the lives of the two strongest women he knew. Bernard said his mother and sister were God fearing citizens. “My mom was a compassionate woman who would probably forgive the people who did this to her. But I have not reached that level where I can forgive them,” he said.

Fr Sirju, who delivered the homily, prayed for the police to find the killers. S aying the circumstances surrounding the murders had filled him with outrage, Sirju said it was not uncommon for criminals to remain on the run without ever being charged.

He said however that one must show mercy despite the circumstances and not add to the violence existing in the society.