Mocha residents protest at Human Services Ministry

Residents of Mocha Arcadia, including the parents and peers of raped and murdered primary school pupil Sade Stoby, protested outside the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security yesterday on the eve of the preliminary inquiry into her killing.

Two teenage boys from Mocha Arcadia are accused of violating and then killing the nine-year-old.

In the absence of Minister Priya Manickchand, the parents met Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir who listened to their concerns, a press release from the ministry said.

The court matter was fixed for today but Nadir was informed that it would be heard next week at a date to be announced since the Magistrate at the Providence court is currently off the bench.

Stoby, a Grade Four (Primary Two) student had left the Mocha Primary School on foot the day she disappeared and headed for home a few miles away. The area where she lived is very bushy. Several searches were launched for her that night but it was not until two days later that her body was found.

The child’s face was swollen with marks of violence and her neck, which was also swollen, appeared to have been broken.

She was found lying on her side in a small pool of water and her uniform was bunched up around her waist exposing the lower part of her body.