Churchgoers: We did not witness attack on woman

NALINEE SEELAL

DIRECTOR of administration at Woodbrook Pentecostal Church, David Farrell, yesterday insisted that neither he nor his staff witnessed the assault and robbery of a woman who was walking with her two-year-old son near the church on Gallus Street on Wednesday.

Farrell said he was in his office while staff were at offices to the back of the church when the robbery occurred. He added that at no time did he or any of the church’s staff members hear any scream as Elena Marie Rivers was being attacked.

Farrell described the robbery as a reflection of what society has become where there is no respect for humanity and even the church.

Rivers, 26, told Newsday on Thursday that when she began screaming after being cuffed and thrown to the ground by her attacker, she hoped people in the church would come to her rescue.

Rivers believes people may have witnessed the robbery but were too scared to come forward. Yesterday, Farrell said he, the pastor of the church and staff members have a very close relationship with residents of Woodbrook, especially people who live on Gallus Street and they remain concerned over Wednesday’s attack and robbery.

Rivers and her son Kaeden were walking along Gallus Street when a man cuffed her in the face, threw her to the ground and stole her cellphone. She got back the phone and wrestled with him while Kaeden stood watching.

A second man, believed to be an accomplice, pulled the man away from Rivers and later asked Rivers if she was all right.

The incident was captured on a surveillance camera and the footage was uploaded to social media where it has gone viral. Up to yesterday, no arrest was made.