Basseterre, St. Kitts-Police in St. Kitts & Nevis are investigating their 17th homicide for 2010. This time, it is the death of an 8 year old primary school child, Belisha Elliott, who is said to have been killed during the early hours of Sunday morning, (July 11th), in Saddlers, on the northwestern side of the island.
According to initial police reports, a female has been taken into custody to assist in the investigation of the case. Though details are still sketchy, it is believed that the female in question is the grandmother of the victim.
During one of the regular call- in programs on local radio, a woman who identified herself as Asha Edwards and the mother of the child, told listeners to a local radio program, that her daughter was sent to spend some vacation time with her grandmother on Saturday July 10th, in the village of Saddlers.
Warner told listeners that she accompanied her daughter to the bus stop on Saturday and when departing, the child told her, “Mommy, see you when I come back. Ah coming back when school open”.
This reunion was not to be, because within 24 hours, little Belisha was pronounced dead by the district doctor from wounds said to be from a sharp object, such as a knife. Police however have declined to give information on the cause of death, pending further medical examination.
A Police spokesman said that they received a call around 4:50am and upon arrival found the victim, lying on a bed with her fatal wounds.
While in an obvious emotional state, Ms. Warner, described her daughter as a very respectable child, who was always calm and smiling and loved going to church.
This unfortunate incident comes just five days after a 14 year old juvenile was charged with manslaughter, after it was alleged that he ran over a toddler with a vehicle in Fountain Village on July 3rd, 2010.