The 20-year-old woman who fatally stabbed to death her 14-year-old cousin at Tunapuna on Saturday and was ordered to be released from the custody of the police late Tuesday insisted yesterday that she was only protecting the life of her unborn child.

Shaliza Khan, who is eight months pregnant with her first child, is due to give birth on August 22. Fighting back the tears, Khan told Newsday that she never meant to kill Simone Pierre, but when she raised a bilnah (rolling pin) to strike her stomach, she retaliated to protect the life of her baby. She told Newsday that Simone was in the habit of taunting and molesting her each time they met, and on Saturday, she acted out of maternal instinct and protected her child. She said that a few months ago, she suspected that Pierre was having a relationship with her (Khan’s) boyfriend, and she questioned her about it. According to Shaliza, Pierre, who was once very close to her, turned “bitter” and began harassing, mocking and threatening her.

In recalling the incident on Saturday, Shaliza said that she was talking to her sister Kathy Ann around 2 pm when Simone started taunting her. She claimed that Pierre started singing a song by 50 Cent entitled, “Many Men” and also began threatening her. She said that Simone later went to a clothes line where she started picking up clothing while taunting her. She claimed that an argument ensued and Pierre rushed inside her home and picked up a bilnah. Khan said that Pierre told her that she was going to kill the baby and, scared for her unborn child she armed herself with an icepick. “When she charged towards me with the bilnah, a struggle ensued and I decided there and then to protect my baby at all costs. I managed to prevent Pierre from striking my stomach, and I stabbed her with the icepick.” She said that she never meant to kill her cousin and acted out of self-defence.

As tears came to her eyes, Shaliza revealed that the incident happened so quickly that she could not believe that Pierre was dead. The weeping woman said that after the incident she went into the house and began praying for Pierre’s life. She explained that police officers who arrived on the scene shortly after took her into custody and she was then informed that Pierre had died. “I wept  when I heard that my cousin was dead, and I told police officers exactly what happened.” As she waited at the Malabar Police Station, she cried and wished it was all a bad dream. As Shaliza awaited her fate she was informed that matters were in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions. But on Tuesday, police officers told her around 5.45 pm that the DPP had ordered her release. She was also told that an inquest would be held into the death. “I felt free but sad because of the death,” said Shaliza. She decided not to attend Pierre’s funeral  yesterday and waited after the burial to beg forgiveness from Pierre’s mother Jennifer. Shaliza said that Jennifer accepted her apology.

She has now focussed her attention on her unborn child and is awaiting the birth. Her boyfriend and father of the child, Arnold Louison, who was wanted on a warrant for failing to pay the court, was sent to prison three weeks ago. Shaliza said that attempts are being made to secure the $7,000 owed to the court to be paid so Louison could be released. She said that she needs all the support she could get now repeating that she is not a killer but rather an expectant mother who was only protecting the life of her innocent child. Police investigators said yesterday that they are now in the process of putting the file together and are awaiting a date to be set for the inquest.

A BICYCLE accident that injured a three-year-old boy sparked the fatal shooting of his Trinidadian father in Brooklyn over the weekend, police and witnesses said.

Irwin Donovan, 20, was gunned down on the doorstep of  his Bedford-Stuyvesant home after getting the child’s mother, Benette Gantt, safely inside. Gantt had argued last Wednesday night with a young woman who rode her bicycle on the sidewalk and struck three-year-old Messiah Donovan, cops said. The child’s face was swollen, and he was treated for a bump on his head. “My daughter Benette confronted the young lady about why she was riding on the sidewalk,” said Robert Gantt, 64, in an interview with the New York Daily News. “There were heated words, and they fought.” The dispute snowballed as both sides attracted supporters. Donovan was elsewhere at the time.

The next evening, Donovan and Benette Gantt were sitting on the stoop of their Hancock Street apartment. About 12:30 am on Sunday, several cars pulled up and a man headed for the couple. “Irwin and my daughter ran into the hall,” said Robert Gantt. “Irwin held the door and told her to run up and call 911. About four shots ran out. I knew it wasn’t fireworks. I came running down the steps, and he was laying on the floor. All was blood.” Donovan was shot once in the chest through his front door window, cops said. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Woodhull Hospital. “I was hoping he would be my son-in-law. He worked hard every day. He did good,” said Gantt. Born in Trinidad, Donovan grew up in New York and had worked as a security guard, Gantt said. “I want the killer of my brother to be found,” said the victim’s 27-year-old sister, Debbie Donovan. “It’s hard losing a 20-year-old.”

A young man paying respects at a makeshift memorial at the Hancock Street apartment predicted more trouble. “There’s going to be a lot more tragedy. It’s not over till it’s over. It doesn’t end here,” said the man, who declined to give his name. Cops said the gunman escaped in a blue sport-utility vehicle. He is described as black, in his 20s, 6-feet-1, 200 to 235 pounds and dressed in a red hat and red shirt.

A clothing store in lower Scarborough was robbed yesterday afternoon of some $6,000 by two gun-toting bandits. The incident occurred around 1 pm. This is the latest in a current spate of armed robberies in Tobago which started on June 29. According to a police report of yesterday’s incident, two men armed with guns confronted the man who was at the time in charge of Gomes clothing outlet at lower Milford Road and demanded money.

Officers from the Scarborough CID are continuing investigations. Meanwhile, four Tri-nidadian men charged witrh several separate counts of armed robbery in connection with the Carnbee gas station robbery, Busy Foods supermarket robbery, and the separate robberies of a man and a woman of Bon Accord re-appeared in the Court yesterday.

SIMONE PIERRE, the 14-year-old Form Two student of the Curepe Junior Secondary School who was stabbed to death on Saturday by a pregnant relative,  was laid to rest at the Tunapuna Cemetery yesterday.

A funeral service, attended by Tacarigua villagers, was held at the Tacarigua Community Centre. During the service, Kathy-Ann Persad, the sister of the woman who was detained in connection with the killing, fainted while the service was being carried out by Pastor Vade Mookai. She was taken next door to her home where she was assisted by her husband and other relatives. At the service, Jennifer Ross, the dead student’s mother told Newsday that she was angry and upset that the person who killed her child was ordered released by the DPP. She said that justice was not served since an innocent life was taken. The grieving woman was comforted by relatives and students of the Curepe Junior Secondary School who presented wreaths at the service. Ross insisted that her daughter was not an aggressive person and felt that the problem between her daughter and Khan could have been worked out.

Poultry magnate Jai Ramkissoon said yesterday that he has lost all confidence in officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and has decided to handle the kidnapping of his son, Syam by himself.

He said that as far as he is concerned, the police are not in possession of any information to assist him in rescuing his son, and he has decided to take matters into his own hands. Ramkissoon held a 15-minute meeting with ASP Henry Millington and Sgt Netram Kowlessar of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad at his Mausica home yesterday, and informed them that he was interested in meeting with the kidnappers and paying a ransom to secure the release of his son. He told the two officers that he received a telephone call from the kidnappers on Tuesday night telling him to drop off the money in Barataria. He was also allowed to speak with his son Syam, who told him, “Daddy don’t let the police come, or they will not meet with you.”

Newsday learned that around 10.30 pm on Tuesday, Ramkissoon accompanied by a friend and with bags containing cash went to Barataria where he awaited the arrival of the kidnappers. He waited for two and a half hours, and when the kidnappers failed to show, he returned to his home. Ramkisson claimed that his wife Sumintra was eagerly awaiting his arrival, hoping and praying that Syam would have been released, but her hopes were dashed when she learned that the kidnappers failed to show. He said that he himself was disappointed that the kidnappers did not show up, but he is still hoping that they will contact him, collect the money, and release Syam. He said that the kidnappers have reduced the ransom money, and he is now desperate to be reunited with his son.

At the home of Ramkissoon yesterday, his wife Sumintra, who appeared distraught, was seen pacing up and down the walkway leading to her home. Ramkisson’s daughter Sharon, who was reportedly kidnapped 17 years ago, also appeared distressed as she called her father to the meeting with AKS officers. Inside the house, two AKS officers who have been placed there on a permanent basis sat quietly inside. AKS officers said yesterday that though Ramkisson seems to be doing things on his own, the police needs to know what is going on at all times.

THE United States will supply the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard with two fast patrol boats as part of its unwavering commitment to this country’s war against international drug traffickers. This was disclosed yesterday by US Ambassador to TT, Dr Roy Austin, during a news conference at the US Information Research Center.

Austin told reporters that despite the withdrawal of US military funding to TT, the US remains firmly in support of this country’s ongoing war against the drug cartels. “When we cut back these funds, there are a lot of funds which TT still receives. We have INL funds that will this year, purchase two ships for your Coast Guard. That has not been cut back. We will still purchase those ships. Next year, as far as we know, you will still get new INL funds to do things.” Austin said the  two 40-foot vessels will cost US$525,000.

The Ambassador explained that the bulk of the US military funding to TT is classified as International Military Education and Training (IMET) which allows members of the local security forces to undergo training at military institutions in the US. Austin also pointed out: “There are a number of areas in which we fund things in TT. We don’t only do things in the area of the military, and our cutbacks all have to do with our military spending.”

Austin referred to the Inter-American Fund Agency which is providing US$107,000 to Buccoo Reef Trust and US$280,000 for the Caribbean Network on Integrated Rural Development and, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance which provides US$130,000 to NEMA. “There are so many areas that we provide money that will not be cut,” he assured. The Ambassador praised National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee and Works Minister Franklyn Khan for their assistance in expediting security matters which concerned the Embassy.

On the heightened security measures at the US Embassy, Austin said the measures were taken to save lives and drew reference to the bombing of the US Embassy in Kenya. He added that such measures were being taken at US foreign missions worldwide in the wake of the September 11 terrorist strikes against the US and, the cost of heightened security at the Port-of-Spain Embassy was US$6 million. Austin said under Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, it was Government’s duty to ensure the security of all foreign missions on its soil.

Recommendations by the Deyalsingh Commission of Inquiry into the functioning of the Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC), calling for the resignation of the commissioners of the EBC and the replacement of its Chief Election Officer (CEO) Howard Cayenne, was quashed by Justice Alan Mendonca yesterday.  He noted that there was nothing in the report that required their resignation and called it a breach of the rules of natural justice.

In a 52-page judgment, Mendonca  nullified the Commission’s five recommendations and other findings of the Commission and ordered the State to pay 75 percent of the EBC’s costs in this legal matter. He said: “ These findings, decisions and recommendations made against the Commissioners and the CEO personally as distinct from the EBC are a grave indictment on them and are prejudicial and injurious to their reputation. The report of the Commission received wide publicity, the recommendations were accepted by Cabinet and calls were made in the medial for the commissioners of the EBC to resign.” The Commission had recommended  by a majority decision that the Commissioners of the EBC should tender their resignations to the President; that a suitable qualified person in management and knowledgeable in human resource and information systems be recruited on contract to the post of CEO; and that the EBC immediately revisit and redo the entire field-check exercises carried out in the 2001 house to house survey in the marginal constituencies.

The two other recommendations dealt with field-check exercises, which the Commission recommended be carried out and continued in all constituencies. Retired judge Justice Lennox Deyalsingh was appointed by then President Arthur NR Robinson to chair a commission of inquiry into the functioning of the EBC. The call for the inquiry came amidst spiralling allegations of irregularities  by the  People’s National Movement (PNM) following the  2000  General Elections. After the recommendations of the Commission, Chairman of the EBC, Oswald Wilson, and other members, filed for judicial review, complaining that the Commission, among things, acted out of its jurisdiction. Representing the Commission were attorneys Douglas Mendes and John Jereme. Justice Mendonca recalled that section 71 (12) of the Constitution protects the EBC commissioners in the exercise of their function from “direction or control” from a third party, or the imposition of a wish of will. Mendonca explained, however, that he awarded only 75 percent costs because the EBC did not succeed on all its reliefs sought.  Attorneys Russell Martineau SC and Deborah Peake argued on behalf of the EBC. The Commission, which included Deyalsingh, Prof Karl Theodore, Dr Noel Kalicharan, Myrtle Palacio and Kyron Arthur, commenced public hearing on March 13, 2002 and ended on May 15, 2002.  Their report was presented to the President on June 3, 2002. However, Dr Kalicharan disassociated himself from the Commission’s  recommendation calling for the resignation of the EBC commissioners.

UNITED STATES Ambassador Dr Roy Austin yesterday declared that the US was not trying to force Trinidad and Tobago to renege on its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) through the withdrawal of military aid.

Addressing a news conference at the US Information Research Centre, the Ambassador stated: “We are not telling TT not to support the ICC. We are saying we would like a special agreement that is based on an article in the Rome Treaty (which created the ICC) that will protect our forces.” Austin explained: “When nations met in Rome in 1998 to consider the establishment of this court, the US was a player. The US raised certain objections which we think today are still important. Some of our objections were met, very important objections were not met. President Clinton did sign the agreement, but his administration had raised objections. He signed the treaty because he felt we could work from inside to bring about the changes that we felt were desirable. He noted there were many flaws, and he advised that the succeeding administration should not ratify that agreement until some of those changes, the important ones of course, were made.”

The Ambassador said this was crucial given the increasing pressure on the US to undertake global peacekeeping operations worldwide. Austin observed that in the present scenario, Secretary of State Colin Powell could be arrested while on a State visit to TT by Government if the ICC believes him to be guilty of crimes against humanity. “That’s how serious the matter is,” he said grimly.