“Do not judge others, God is the only judge.” That was the message Brother Stephen Daley gave to mourners yesterday as murdered prisoner Aimard Placid Lima, who was beaten to death while in prison on June 9, was buried yesterday. Daley, ministering at Lima’s funeral at the La Divina Pastora Roman Catholic Church, Siparia, said Lima was a victim of judgment. “We in Trinidad have a tendency to jump to conclusions and make judgments without hearing the two sides,” he said.
That, he added, was what happened to Lima. “In that cell where Placid was placed you had judge, jury and executioners. That is not what we are called to do. Everyone has a right to justice,” Daley said. Lima, 47, also known as “Ralph,” of Lily Trace, Siparia, a father of two, was found unconscious in a cell at Remand Yard, Golden Grove Prison, Arouca, on June 9. He was later pronounced dead at the Arima Health Facility. Prison reports stated Lima, who was remanded in custody pending a criminal records trace after appearing on a warrant for a 25 year-old rape case, was beaten to death.
It is alleged inmates believed Lima was in prison for raping a minor and turned on him. However, relatives of the dead man are disputing that story since a second autopsy, conducted privately by Dr Hubert Daisley, concluded that Lima was beaten to death with a blunt object and suffered multiple broken bones. He was also stabbed. Yesterday Daley said systems were not put in place to ensure incidents, such as Lima’s death, did not occur. Lima’s sister, Gloria Joseph, who delivered the eulogy, said her brother was a “happy go-lucky person.” He was buried at the Siparia cemetery.