‘Monster’ - Church leader wants child’s killer to face full brunt of the law

Bishop Dr Rowan Edwards, founder of the Lighthouse Worship Centre in Spanish Town, St Catherine, has called for a holistic approach to tackle the "monstrosity" of crime, following the murder of eight-year-old Braeton Primary School student Danielle Rowe.

"It is beyond human comprehension. It is clear that the guilty party is a monster," Edwards said. "There must be swift and decisive action to find the culprit and give him the full brunt of the law." Rowe, who is also president of the 10,000-Men and Families Movement, said that the churches in St Catherine have used prayer and supplication to help reduce the parish's murder figures compared to the corresponding period last year. But more needs to be done.

"The churches will continue to pray, but this monstrosity must be tackled ... in a holistic way. We will have to work together to strengthen our resolve against evil. The children are the future, and when they are taking them out of school and killing them, it needs divine intervention," he said. Edwards said that he and a team intend to visit Danielle's school, which is located in Portmore.

Reports are that last Thursday, Danielle was taken from school and was later thrown from a vehicle. She was found on Roosevelt Avenue in St Andrew. Her throat had been slashed. She was taken to hospital, where she was admitted, but subsequently succumbed to her injuries.

There has been growing condemnation for the gruesome act.

"Deeply disturbing and barbaric," was how Prime Andrew Holness described the situation, and Opposition Leader Mark Golding said it was a "despicable and depraved act of violence against this innocent child". Culture Minister Olivia Grange said: "This is a stark reminder that we must confront the evil that plagues our society and threatens all of us, not the least our children." Portmore's Mayor Leon Thomas said it was "a dreadful act".

Police investigators in the St Catherine South and St Andrew Central divisions are investigating.