‘Big man’ took schoolgirl to her death

THE POLICE are continuing their investigations into the death of Barataria teenager Nida Sandy, 17, who drowned after she skipped school and went for a swim in the Caura River on Thursday morning. Police sources told Sunday Newsday they are searching for a suspect in connection with the incident and charges of statutory rape and other offences against minors could be laid. They are looking into reports that a man accompanied Nida and two other schoolgirls to Caura.

Grieving relatives said Sandy left her Eighth Avenue home around 8 am Thursday to go to school at Bourg Mulatresse Senior Comprehensive.  A few hours later they were told that she died at the Mt Hope Medical Complex following an incident at the Caura River. “We want to know what took place and how she died because we are getting several different reports and the police are not giving us any,” the dead girl’s sister, Tesha, said. “When we went to the two girls that was with Nida, they running and hiding. When we checked on the name of the man whose name was given as the person who took them there, it was a fake.

“From our information Nida was forced into the water because she cannot swim. Why she blanked school and went to Caura with these two schoolgirls and a big man, we do not know because she was always loving, quiet and obedient.” Nida’s mother, Evelyn Sandy, expressed shock at her daughter’s behaviour. She said Nida, the fourth of her six children was a loving and obedient child. “I cannot understand why she left school and went to the river with these people. I can only say she was influenced by the company she kept.” According to reports, Sandy was seen entering a white B 14 car a short distance from her home.  Two other schoolgirls in uniform and a man were in the vehicle.

Police said at around 12.30 pm, while Nida and one of the girls were swimming in the river dressed only in their underwear, they both got into difficulties. Nida sank and the other girl was pulled out of the river. Nida, a Form Five student was pulled out of the river a short while later and CPR was administered. She was rushed to the Mount Hope Medical Complex but was pronounced dead on arrival. PC Lackai is continuing inquiries into the incident.