Jabari Hernandez Snr, the father of three-year-old Jabari Hernandez, had already priced a bicycle for his son and was planning to buy one for him and his older brother. That plan has now turned into funeral plan as Hernandez died on Saturday under questionable circumstances.
A male relative, who identified himself only as “Papa”, said in a telephone interview yesterday Hernandez fell around November 14 or 15 and since then he had been in and out of the hospital. His last hospital trip was on Saturday when Hernandez was taken to the Sangre Grande District Hospital for vomiting. Jabari died and a preliminary autopsy conducted on Monday suggested he was murdered.
“Papa” said Jabari was a “real loving child” who everyone wanted to have around them. “He was a beautiful little child,” he added. Contacted by telephone yesterday the boy’s father said there is no Christmas for him. He added he was looking forward to having his son for the Christmas season. Hernandez said he used to have full custody of his son but his work schedule forced him to allow Jabari to stay at his mother’s house in Cumuto. A decision, he said, he was now regretting.
He said his son was a very loving child who everyone liked because “he cute.” He said his son was an angel, adding he could not talk much as the matter was being investigated. A preliminary autopsy on Monday by forensic pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, revealed the three-year-old died as a result of blunt force trauma to his body.
The report said Jabari suffered severe injuries to his abdomen, resulting in severe internal trauma. It stated that Jabari suffered trauma in the stomach, tear on the liver, tear on the attachment tissue to the intestine (mesentery) which caused the peritonitis that triggered the vomiting.
It added: “An X-ray of the child was done yesterday which showed there were no old wound to the child’s bones. Further testing showed the official cause of death was inflammation in the stomach (peritonitis) which may have been caused by the child being repeatedly hit in the stomach.
“The child also suffered multiple traumatic injuries to the head inconsistent with a fall. The child was dehydrated and under-nourished. At three years the child is supposed to be 95 centimetres, he was 90. His weight is supposed to be at least 14 kilograms (31 lbs). He was weighing only 11.5 (25 lbs).” Police said they were treating the child’s death as a homicide.