kevon.felmine@guardinan.co.tt
With her one-year-old granddaughter Sirah Williams Parris’ death still tormenting her, Michelle Williams pleaded with people to stop blaming her for the child’s murder.
Speaking at Sirah’s funeral at their home in Ste Madeleine yesterday, Williams told mourners being blamed for the loss of her granddaughter was too much to take.
“I know people blame me for my grandchild, but I would never, ever hurt my grandchild,” she said.
Last Sunday, Sirah was in Williams’ arms as they sat on the porch of their home in Tarodale, Ste Madeleine. Police said at around 8.15 pm, Williams and her daughter Nikitak were arguing with Williams’ common-law husband, Neville Simon, when he allegedly went into the house and returned with a cutlass. It was alleged that he fatally chopped Sirah on her head and hacked Williams several times about her body while threatening to kill everyone present.
Police arrested Williams and on Friday Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC advised the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three to charge Simon with Sirah’s murder. They also charged him with maliciously wounding Williams as well as the common assault of Nikitak. He will appear before a San Fernando Magistrate tomorrow.
At the funeral, Williams insisted she was not to blame for Sirah’s death. She said she had just returned home from work and was holding the child. She said she loved all her grandchildren.
“Everything about those children is about me. I am fed up with being blamed because I would never do that. This child was like an angel. She was the life of the house. When she came, she was always laughing, and Sunday that child was just happy, happy, happy,”
Williams said.
Pastor Farouk Mohammed, of the El-Bethel Community Church, who officiated at the funeral, told mourners Sirah’s death was the product of evil as no one in their right mind could commit such an act.
“I am sure the individual who committed such an act would be in remorse right now. I can guarantee you that. And he himself would be crying out for forgiveness because when the act is committed, the evil spirit and the devil moves away because the purpose was accomplished and that is how evil spirits move today, creating blocks in our lives. But if you do not have a relationship with Christ, you will not recognise that evil,” Farouk said.
He asked mourners how many of them would return to the home to check on the family’s well being. He guaranteed the family that the church would support them.