Jenice sleeps with the Angels

This was the prevailing sentiment at the funeral service yesterday for the girl who an autopsy showed, died as a result of blunt force trauma. Simply put...

she was beaten to death.

Through tears, her uncle Fenton James said the way Jenice died was “barbaric”. He insisted to mourners gathered at the house of mourning in Whiteland that justice must be served.

“Jenice’s life was snuffed away in a barbaric manner. She was an innocent child loved by everyone within the community. My heart goes out to this innocent child. Why,” James cried as he was consoled by other relatives. He continued, “Last month we observed International Children’s Day.

Why is it that a child has to go through such traumatic experience.

But God is good and I know that Jenice is in a better place,” he cried.

“Nothing must be swept under the carpet and I know justice will prevail,” he said. Last week Thursday, Jenice was found in an unresponsive state lying on a mattress at her home.

She was rushed in an ambulance to San Fernando General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. An autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre revealed she died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and stomach.

She was a student of the Whiteland Early Childhood Learning Centre.

Delivering the eulogy, Jenice’s aunt Kimberly Lee described her niece as an angel. “Jenice loved dancing, singing.

She was free spirited, well-mannered and full of energy,” Lee said. She added that her niece like every little girl, loved playing doll house.

“Farewell my precious jewel...you are an angel in Heaven watching over us. She was a princess,” the woman cried.

Rev Deena Ramnarine in her sermon called on parents to instil values and morals in their child/children.

“As parents we need to set good examples for our children, they are watching us, so you cannot live a careless life...the children are watching,” Ramnarine said. Jenice’s mother Shana Charles wept over the body of her only daughter who was dressed in pink dress and had a silver tiara on her head. Jenice was laid to rest at the Poonah Whiteland Cemetery.

Police are yet to detain anyone in connection with the child’s murder.