A Diego Martin mother of six whose husband was murdered on Saturday near the family’s home says she wants to start over with her life, but will need assistance in doing so.
Shameilia Awong, 22, wept yesterday as she told the media that her two eldest children no longer want to live at their North Post, Diego Martin, home following the murder of their father, who was the family’s sole breadwinner.
Awong said her five-year-old was awakened from sleep by the gunshots that ended her father’s life.
“They are traumatised, they are saying they don’t want to live here. When you ask the younger ones where their father is, they say that he went to work because that is all they know he does, go to work and come back home.
“I haven’t explained to them what happened, but the children in the yard told them that their father is dead. They need counselling,” Awong said.
She added, “I will no longer be living at that place where he was killed. I am trying to move out and start over with my children. My in-laws and my cousins and sisters are very supportive right now.
“The kids are not doing well. My two big daughters, they do not want to sleep there, they don’t want to do nothing there. It is like the place is haunted, they don’t want to be there anymore. I don’t know how I would be able to handle this. I just hope that God would send the right people in my life to help me get through this.”
According to police, residents heard gunshots around 2 am Saturday and later found 26-year-old Jahkim Valentine in his yard bleeding from gunshot wounds. Nearby, Tyrell Martin, 15, was found with bullet wounds to the legs. He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he is currently warded. (JL)