sexualabuse

Police confirmed that 4-year-old Bella Walker died as a result of blunt force trauma to the body.

The trauma caused multiple fractures to her body, police said.

Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle lamented the brutal injuries that caused internal injuries to the little girl. ” I don’t know what they were thinking.”

The big picture

Bella died on Friday afternoon and police ruled her death “suspicious.” The main suspect is the boyfriend of her mother who remains in police custody. He was seen assisting the unresponsive body of the girl into an ambulance.

Neighbours recalled the child being left home alone and wandering the streets of Major Subdivision.

Bella lived with her grandparents in Grand Bahama from the age of two weeks until she was four years old. Two months ago, she was sent to live with her mother.

Government officials have spoken out against the violent act.

Today, Marco City MP Michael Pintard encouraged the government to send a clear message to perpetrators in child abuse cases, showing that “we have had enough as a country and are prepared to do something fundamentally different.”

National Security Minister rejects sexual abuse claims

Speculations arose that the child was sexually assaulted, CSJ Report was informed that her vagina showed signs of swelling and injury, in addition to previous fractures that healed on their own.

But National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said there was no evidence to suggest she was sexually abused.

Outside of parliament on Wednesday morning, he said, “We don’t need to insinuate more into something than is there. If a child dies, if it’s by violence, that is unacceptable. And I don’t understand that people don’t see that sufficient.”

The wife of Prime Minister Philip Davis is speaking up against the killing of 4-year-old Bella Walker, calling her death “heinous” vowing that the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister will bring awareness and policy proposals to protect children from abuse.

Ann-Marie Davis said it was unfortunate that it took the assault and killing of Bella to cause public outrage.

“There is more than sufficient blame to go around for our societal failings in this regard,” she said.

Bella grew up in the care of her paternal great grandmother and grandmother in Freeport, Grand Bahama but was sent to Nassau to live with her mother nearly two months ago.

Neighbours recalled Bella being home alone and sometimes wandering the streets. They kept her until her mother or the mother’s boyfriend arrived home.

She was killed on Friday night, allegedly by the hands of her mother’s boyfriend. Police have not identified the exact cause of death, only to say she sustained injuries to the body. Other reports indicate the child was also sexually assaulted.

Davis said, “I express heartfelt condolences to the family of young Walker as they struggle and pray to make sense of this apparent senseless and unspeakable tragedy. My thoughts and prayers and that of the Prime Minister are with the affected family during this difficult period.”

Davis said she is confident that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and authorities will issue secure swift justice.

“Bahamians everywhere are encouraged to be agents of change by lending their collective voices of outrage, intolerance, and advocacy in support of our children and the vulnerable. We are parents, sisters, brothers and when we commit ourselves to consistently being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers – we can cause for a social and cultural shift in our behavior toward one another.”

The mother’s boyfriend is in police custody.