(Trinidad Guardian) Police yesterday charged four-year-old Amarah Lallite’s stepfather, Isan Contant, with her murder.
Officers laid the charge against Contant after receiving the go-ahead from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The news brought joy to Amarah’s mother Tricia Villaruel.
Speaking with Guardian Media near the Fifth Street, Five Rivers, Arouca house where Amarah’s killing took place, Villaruel said, “I was happy for Amarah. I hope he goes away for a very long time, and he suffers exactly as Amarah suffered, a million times over. I hope he could never forget her face every time he is tortured, slowly and painfully,” she said.
She again said her child did not deserve the death she got.
Fighting back tears, she said: “She did not deserve that, she did not do anybody anything. She was too innocent and too much of an angel to deserve that type of brutality from somebody she trusted.”
Villaruel thanked the police and community for the support given to her and her family.
“I want to thank everyone who lend their support. All the ministers, the MP’s office and the councillor’s office, the community. It sad that it took such a tragedy for support to come in for Amarah, but I guess this is supposed to be a learning experience in how you should live every single day amongst people in your community.”
She heaped praises on the police for their support from the night of the killing.
“I want to thank all the officers involved, every single one of you. Thank you very much for all of your work, all of your hard work, all the support, the support system you gave to me. To my neighbours, the people who helped me, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Villaruel said funeral arrangements for her daughter are yet to be finalised. However, a candlelight vigil has been organised for Monday starting at 6.30 pm from Five Rivers Junction to the home.
The vigil is being organised by the Five Rivers Community Council Cultural Caravan, councillor for the area Desiree De Freitas, the Quays Foundation, the Five Rivers Community Council and Fun with Aunty Tova.
Police said at about 10.10 pm on Monday, Amarah’s mother visited the Arouca Police Station with her clothes tattered seeking help. Officers who took her information later escorted her back to her home, where the child’s body was found in one of the bedrooms. Her head was found in a barrel at the back of the house.
Amarah’s autopsy revealed she died of blunt force trauma to the head and decapitation. It is alleged a car battery was used to bludgeon the child. A pair of scissors was used to cut her lips, gouge out one eye and mutilate her face.
Contant was recently awarded a cash settlement after he sued the state for wrongful arrest and has a pending court matter for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution.
Hours after the killing, Guardian Media also overheard police saying the scene was so gruesome that they may need counselling, while one officer described the scene as “satanic”.
Head of the North Central Division, Snr Supt Richard Smith, confirmed then that his officers needed counselling.
