Resident at vigil for murdered siblings: Turn to God
Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
“Turn to God!” That was the heart-wrenching appeal of resident Marisa Cooper to the nation following the brutal murders of 16-year-old Shenelle and her brother, Keston Singh, 21, by a fellow villager in their New Grant, Princes Town, community on September 4. Dressed in white, residents participated in a candlelight vigil organised by Cooper from Naggee Road Junction to the house where the siblings were murdered.
She said she organised the vigil not only to honour the siblings and show support to their family but to encourage people to “get on their knees” and turn to God. “This country is in dire need of prayers. Yes, people are calling on the Prime Minister and this one and that party. They cannot help. We need to get on our knees and united we stand, and divided we fall. Stop minding other people business, and mind your own.”
Cooper, who is related to the suspect in the killing of the siblings, also asked God to forgive the suspect.
“As hurt as I am because of the actions of the individual towards the siblings, I have to ask God to forgive him.”
She said the siblings’ murders have brought a coldness over the usually peaceful and loving community.
She disagreed with Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin, who stated during a press conference on Friday that crime was under control.
She said, “The crime level is already out of hand. I am asking the authorities, to please address the nation. No one yet has come to address the nation. People’s hearts in sorrow. Their heart is in pain every single day. Not just only because of this but because of the crime rate in Trinidad and Tobago.”
She said they need to give the nation some kind of assurance and comfort due to the high crime rate.
Cooper said lawmakers also need to review the “privileges” that murder offenders have under the law.
“They have to review the bill for the murderers and them. They have too much of privileges. They need to do something better.”
She said they also need to do more to reform prisoners.
Chanting Shouter Baptist gospels while accompanied by the Redd Drumming Rhythm Section, residents walked through the community with their lit candles from the junction to where the murder occurred.
Keston had moved into the community about a year ago and was renting an apartment.
Shenelle, a Form Four student of Mayaro Secondary, would often visit him. She lived with her mother in Mayaro. However, on August 31, she left home to buy a school shoe and opted to spend some time at her brother’s home. They were liming at the suspect’s home when they were attacked sometime before 7 pm on September 4.
Relatives found Shenelle’s body on the ground about ten feet away from the suspect’s home with chop wounds to her face. Police later found her brother’s body slumped over a couch in the gallery with chop wounds to the neck and feet. The 33-year-old suspect was arrested a few houses away from his home the following morning.
The autopsies are expected to be done this week at the Forensic Science Centre. Officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region 3 are investigating.
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