Autopsy confirms: Baby Soriah killed by bullet, shot to head

An autopsy has confirmed that a bullet to the head claimed the life of two-year-old Soriah Martin. The autopsy, done yesterday by Pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, dispelled the notion that her fall from the arms of a relative after the shot was fired, may have caused Soriah’s death.

Relatives of the child, who were outside the centre, remained tight-lipped when approached by reporters. Two elderly women came to the centre to identify the child and witness the autopsy. Soriah’s mother Deisha Baxam was not seen at the centre. On seeing reporters and cameramen, several soldiers from the Defence Force surrounded the baby’s relatives, preventing any further interaction by reporters.

While not confirmed, it is believed that senior officers from the Defence Force are playing an active role in the investigation of the child’s death since the person who pulled the trigger is a soldier who is said to be a close relative of baby Soriah. The soldier remains in police custody while a TT Defence Force-issued semi-automatic pistol has been seized by police.

The two women went to the centre in a 12-seater maxi taxi and only came out of the vehicle when they were called to identify Soriah’s body and, later, to receive her death certificate and autopsy report.

On Tuesday evening, the soldier, 29, arrived at Soriah’s home off the Eastern Main Road in Sangre Grande to collect some clothes. He soon became involved in a heated argument with the baby’s uncle Gregory Harracksingh who at the time was holding Soriah in his arms.

Relatives of 23-month-old baby Soriah Martin, as they enter the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

The soldier, according to reports, drew his firearm and fired a shot at Harracksingh. The bullet struck Soriah in the head, exited and then struck Harracksingh in his arm. In pain, he dropped the baby and slumped to the ground. The soldier then allegedly jumped into his car and drove off.

The baby and Harracksingh were taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival while Harracksingh was treated and warded. The soldier’s car was later intercepted by police and he was arrested.

Police sources told Newsday that when the soldier was told baby Soriah was dead, he began weeping in his cell at the police station. Investigations are continuing.