00:00Classmates of Standard 4 pupil of the St. Francis Aireen R.C. Primary School, Mercedes Aurora Lexus Lane,
00:08cried as they said their final goodbyes to their murdered friend on Tuesday afternoon.
00:16Twelve-year-old Mercedes, who was found beaten to death along Carapal Road Palo Seco two Saturdays ago,
00:24was laid to rest today following a funeral service at the Aireen Seven Day Adventist Church.
00:31Eulogised by two of her sisters, Mercedes was remembered as full of life and energy,
00:38who brought laughs and joy to everyone around her.
00:41Yet, they say, she faced unimaginable cruelty and violence that no child should ever have to endure.
00:49The manner in which Mercedes was taken from us has shooken our family, our community, and our nation to its
00:57cult.
00:58It has left us with questions that may never be answered and pain that may never fully heal.
01:05There is anger, there is heartbreak, there is disbelief,
01:09because no child should ever have to endure what Mercedes endured.
01:13No parent should have to bury their child.
01:16Tributes came from the churches she attended, her school, MP4 Labrie Clyde Elder,
01:23opposition leader Penelope Beckles, and mayor of Separia Dudnat Meru,
01:28who said the killing of Mercedes should raise a level of awareness
01:32and act as a reminder that the days of putting a girl child in a taxi alone are gone.
01:39We need to be protectors and be more responsible, he says, where our children are concerned.
01:45Friends, ensure your children where they are at all times, especially your young girls.
01:53Don't put your children in no taxi and no pH to travel alone.
01:58If you as a parent have to go where they are and meet them, to accompany them home,
02:04bring them home, love them, cherish them.
02:07Giving the sermon, Pastor Stevenson Halls says, sometimes when heinous crimes are committed,
02:14a natural human response by some may be an urge to serve justice themselves.
02:19But he told the family on Tuesday to allow the law to take care of this matter.
02:25But you forgive.
02:28Forgive yourself.
02:30Because sometimes in these situations, we blame ourselves, we go back, you know,
02:37and we say, if I didn't do this or I didn't do that, you didn't do it, you can't change
02:41it.
02:42That's what it is.
02:43Forgive yourself and move on and leave it up to God.
02:50Because if you don't, that too can take you down.
02:55Cindy Raguba Tika Singh, TV6 News.
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