Emily finds peace at last

DRESSED in pure white, with a pink teddy at her side, four-year-old Emily Anamanthodo — despite several bruises about her face — appeared to be at peace, as she lay in a two-feet long, white casket.

All around her, screams and wails pierced the air as a large crowd gathered to bid the child a final farewell at her funeral which took place yesterday at her grandmother’s Snake Alley, Marabella home.

Chandradaye Basdeo held her head and screamed: “Oh God, look at what my baby went through. Oh God have mercy!” On the verge of collapse, the deceased child’s grandmother had to be supported by several persons.

Noticeably absent from the service was Anamanthodo’s father Jason Walker, who opted to stay away for fear of being attacked by mourners. Policemen later escorted Walker to the Marabella Public cemetery where he bade a final farewell to his daughter.

Baby Emily died on Monday night at the San Fernando General Hospital. An autopsy revealed she had been tortured with cigarette burns, was raped and buggered and had been beaten to death. Pastor Andre Ram of the Sweet Holy Spirit Ministries in Couva, in his sermon pleaded with the mourners to allow the law to take its course. “Many heard screams and knew what this child was going through yet still nothing was done. Let us leave it there. Let the law deal with it, do not deal with it,” the pastor pleaded.

He then called for healing in the land to start with prayers and mutual respect for one another.

“Which person will be the next one possessed by the Devil to kill? Everyone must live for the Almighty. He is our help,” Pastor Ram said.