“Pray for the police.”
This was the advice given to the grieving family members of Sona Lalloo at her funeral service yesterday.
Lalloo, 80, succumbed to her injuries hours after she was shot in the head by a police officer’s gun while inside her Rancho Quemado home on Monday.
The bullet came from the gun of a rookie officer who said his gun accidentally discharged twice when he fell while chasing a suspect in the area. One of the bullets went through a wooden wall of Lalloo’s home, hitting her in the head.
Yesterday, Lalloo’s funeral was delayed for about half an hour as her grandson Keith Khan said police investigators had visited the funeral home where her body was kept to get fingerprints before she was laid to rest.
Khan, however, said the family was very satisfied with the treatment being given to them by the investigating officers.
Snr Sup Nazrool Hosein, who is in charge of the South Western Division, attended the funeral and MP for the area, Nicole Olivierre also visited the family before the service started.
During the service, Bishop David Lewis pleaded with Lalloo’s children and grandchildren yesterday to emulate the pensioner and forgive the officer responsible for her death.
“I know if Sister Sona could come back here today to bring a message, she would say pray for the police officer, she would say ‘Don’t vex children,’” said Lewis.
“I know some of her children make doubles, she would say do some doubles, call the police and let them eat, that was the kind of person that she was. Her death must not be in vain, even in death a victory can come and you can learn to forgive and be like your grandma.”
Describing Lalloo as a peaceful woman, Lewis said, “This had to be a peaceful woman because even though she died in this sort of accident, her family is in peace, another family would have been making noise and carrying on today...but your grandma left peace behind for you.”
He urged the family not to pass judgement on the police officer either.
“Probably she didn’t die in a way anyone would have expected and while we know there are times of lack of judgment and mistakes, we still don’t know all and we have to give the police the support to continue to do their work.”
Asking mourners to pray for the nation as well, Lewis said, “It’s not only the police service that needs prayer, the nation needs prayer as well.”
Lalloo’s daughter, Annie, paid tribute to her in a touching eulogy, saying, “Her life wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. From an early age she toiled in the cocoa and coffee estates for a few dollars to make ends meet. When she became a mother, she ensured all her 10 children knew the value of an education.”
“She was famous for her bubbly personality and was a true role model to her children and grandchildren.”
After the service Lalloo was buried at the Erin Cemetery.
The T&T Guardian contacted head of the Corporate Communications department of the TTPS, Ellen Lewis who said police are now waiting for the ballistic report from the shooting to confirm where the bullet that struck Lalloo came from.
Lewis said this was necessary as one of Lalloo’s sons gave a statement saying he heard three shots during the incident.
Lewis declined to say what, if any, action can be taken against the officer if the report proves the bullet came from his gun.