Neesa laid to rest

Oct 07, 2010 News

… relatives plead with killer(s) to give clue to find head

Yesterday, former classmates, teachers, friends and relatives of 16-year-old Neesa Lalita Gopaul gathered at her grandparents Anna Catherina home to pay their last respects to the teen.

The teen’s headless remains were handed over to relatives some time after 13:00 hours yesterday following a post mortem examination. This newspaper was told that the post mortem was inconclusive.

Queen’s College students present a framed school tie to Neesa’s grandmother

A source close to the investigation has stated that samples were taken from the teen’s body for further testing. Kaieteur News understands that one of the tests to be conducted on the samples taken will be a toxicology test.
Once the teen’s remains were handed over to relatives, they were determined to give the teen a descent burial despite the fact that investigators have not located the head. At the teen’s grandparents’ home scores of Queen’s College students and some teachers, including the head teacher Mrs. Friedel Isaacs, were present. Some of Neesa’s close friends presented a plague bearing the school tie to her grandmother.
Earlier yesterday, Queen’s College flew the flag at half staff high above the school. Until then, a black flag was flown at the gate.
All of the students wore black ribbons pinned on to their uniforms. There were Muslim students who were clad in black outfits. Their teachers had organized transportation for the students to get to and from the funeral.
As persons waited to pay their final respects many were heard talking about the teen and her plight. One of the teen’s aunts spoke of how Neesa’s father was very proud of her until the day he died. The woman said that the paternal aunt said that they too tried to reach out to the teen but her mother who is currently in police custody cut them off.
The teen’s remains arrived at the home in a box covered with a white cloth according to Muslim rites. As the vehicle bearing her body made its way through the street both sides of the road were lined with her classmates.
After a brief prayer by Sheik Moen-ul-Hack the students sang the school’s song. The body was then taken to the Muslim Cemetery at Leonora where Janaaza was read by Sheik Moen-ul-Hack. In his brief message to the gathering at the cemetery Sheik ul-Hack said that the Muslim community also failed the teen.
He stated that the Muslim community has a responsibility to children. He said that when parents cannot fulfill their duties it is required that all Muslims discharge their duty as this is according to the words of Allah.
He called on his Muslim brothers and sisters as well as the country at large not to allow this case to go unsolved. He stated that justice must be served and he called on those who may have information to come forward.
Hack further stated that Allah would hold person withholding key information accountable for their actions.
Meanwhile, up to press time yesterday police were still working feverishly to gather as much evidence as possible. Relatives are still clinging to hope that the teen’s head may be recovered. The teen’s grandfather, Mohamed Kayum, said that his family needs some closure and finding her head will help in some way.
And efforts are being made to have Neesa’s five-year-old sister be adopted by an overseas-based relative.