BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE family and friends of the late Belisha Edwards can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the person who took the eight-year-old's life would be locked away in the safety of Her Majesty's Prison.
Melvina Kelly appeared before His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas yesterday (May 17) for sentencing after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the July 11, 2010 killing of Edwards, her eight- year-old granddaughter.
Kelly was represented by Senior Counsel Henry Browne who simply asked His Lordship to "impose what your Lordship is mindful of imposing" but called for consideration for further psychiatric evaluation of Kelly.
Kelly's Social Inquiry Report, which was prepared by Probation Officer Gerald Connor, explained that she is very violent in her thinking and actions and that "one cannot determine the root cause but it seems to be getting more violent".
The Report also suggested that Kelly undergo further psychiatric assessment.
His Lordship made reference to the psychiatric evaluation that was done on Kelly by Consultant Psychiatrist, Sharon Halliday, noting that there was a long list of recommendations and that they would definitely be taken into consideration.
His Lordship, before passing sentence, said that the situation is "both sad and disturbing".
He then ordered that Kelly be "detained at Her Majesty's Prison at the court's pleasure" and that all recommendations made by Halliday would be applied.
Kelly had originally pleaded not guilty to murder. She underwent psychiatric evaluation and was declared fit to stand trial but she later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Edwards was the daughter of Kelly’s son, Leroy Elliott.
It was previously reported that this publication was told by sources close to the family that at about 2:30 on the morning in question, the convict's teenage son arrived home and saw the eight-year-old and her grandmother sleeping on a bed in one of the bedrooms.
He went to his room and shortly after, while in bed, he heard a loud pounding on the door. On opening the door, he was confronted by his mother, who “jabbed him with a knife on his hip and told him to go back to sleep”.
“He went back to bed, but within seconds he heard Belisha screaming and he ran out the house and went to his sister who lives nearby. When he got there, he told his sister what happened. He and his sister then went to their mother’s home and found that the doors were locked. A report was then made to the police,” one of the sources said.
This media house also learned that sometime in the past, Kelly had reportedly stabbed her husband.
Kelly will be undergoing periodic psychiatric evaluation while detained at the prison and would only be allowed back into society if deemed fit to do so by the court.
Overtime, the prisoner would be evaluated and the court would act accordingly," His Lordship said.
