JUSTICE SERVED

The mother of Shanoya Wray, the 13-year-old-old girl who was viciously killed in 2018 and her body almost completely dissolved in caustic acid, said she never believed for a minute that the teacher held for her murder would walk away and is happy he has been sent away for 34 years.

Trinidadian national Sanju Maharaj, who had sexually assaulted Shanoya months before he lured her away from her August Town home in St Andrew and ended her life, was on Thursday sentenced in the Home Circuit Court after he pleaded guilty to four counts of having sexual intercourse with a person under 16, murder, and trying to dispose of a corpse.

The educator was sentenced to 12 years for the sex charges, 21 years for the capital offence, and two years for the other. The sentences are to run consecutively.

The New Day All-Age Student went missing from her home in July 2018. Five days later, her skeletal remains were found soaking in a bathtub with chemical liquid at Maharaj’s rented premises on Whalley Close in Mona, St Andrew.

Maharaj’s neighbours became suspicious after smelling rotting flesh for days and saw the Trinidadian attempting to burn what appeared to be female clothing and braids.

This prompted another resident in the yard to peek into that section of the house, where what appeared to be a body was seen and the police were alerted.

The police reported then that most of the body had been dissolved in the corrosive substance and that only two pieces of bones had been left with a small piece of flesh which was used to confirm Shanoya’s identity through DNA testing.

A medical student, Leonardo Maddan, said to be the Trinidadian’s friend, was found at the premises and was arrested and charged with misprision of a felony. He is to return to court on October 28.

Yesterday, when The Gleaner visited Shanoya’s family in Bedward Gardens, the family members were still questioning why the teen was killed and in such a brutal manner, but were pleased with the sentence and lauded the justice system for demonstrating that it still works.

“Mi happy wid the sentence ‘cause a long time mi a say mi wah see if the justice system work ‘cause nuff nuff people pickney dead and dem no find no killer and even when dem find dem, dem nuh get nuh justice,” said Shanoya’s mother, Shana-Kay Hall.

She said, however, she was quite certain that Maharaj would be convicted.

“Every time mi go court and talk to the police, dem always give mi confidence and tell mi something positive. First, dem tell mi there is no way him can get bail and that him have to go to trial,” she added, commending the police for their thorough investigation.

Grandmother Sylvia Campbell and aunt Lisa-Gaye Hall also expressed joy at the outcome.

“Mi still pray fi him, but mi glad fi get justice for my granddaughter. ... Everybody glad. All the family happy,” said Campbell, who broke down in tears, noting that she still misses Shanoya.

“A my bed she used to sleep inna. Mi know a she did a go come take care a mi,” she added.

“Mi glad say him (Maharaj) nuh walk ‘cause mi did a fret, but when mi think ‘bout it, mi always say when him get weh from man, him can’t get weh from God, and mi believe so much inna God mi know Him never did a go mek him walk free. Thank you, Jesus,” Campbell said.

“Now, mi can believe inna the justice system, ‘cause mi hear nuff case weh man go jail and get wey, and mi nah tell no lie, mi did a fret,” said the grandmother, adding that she is hoping that those intent on harming children will see the sentence as a deterrent.

Hall said that Maharaj showed no form of remorse during the trial.

“The man mad and wicked. When him a plead and the judge ask him ‘bout the murder charge, him stop and say, ‘A tru the family nuh know’, but the judge told him to just answer with guilty or not guilty.

“And when him a come out him say, ‘Mi love har’, you nuh see say him mad? You can love somebody and kill dem and do dem so? Mi a wonder if him sensible and mi a wah know a weh him wish the family woulda know,” Hall shared.

At the time of Wray’s death, Maharaj was before the court for carnally abusing her. He was charged after the teen was found at his home, a day after she did not return home from school.

Maharaj met the teen while he was on teaching practice at her school.

He is said to have picked up the child outside her home on the morning she went missing.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com