Pastor calls for end of violence at murder victim's funeral

Relatives of Rehana Jaggernath, at her funeral at Clark and Battoo's Chapel, Montrose, Chaguanas on Saturday.  - Angelo Marcelle
Relatives of Rehana Jaggernath, at her funeral at Clark and Battoo's Chapel, Montrose, Chaguanas on Saturday. - Angelo Marcelle

There has been a call an end to violence, peace and unity from the family of murder victim Rehana “Rena” Jaggernauth on Saturday at her funeral.

Jaggernauth, whose semi-nude body was found in the Guayamare River, Caroni, a week ago, was buried at the Montrose, Chaguanas cemetery, after her funeral service at Clark and Battoo's Funeral Home in Montrose.

Pastor Patrick Thomas said the manner in which Jaggernauth’s life was taken was unjust and hoped her death would be the reason for the family and people in conflict to unite.

An autopsy showed that Jaggernauth was beaten, stabbed and strangled before she drowned in the river.

Thomas said while everyone is expected to die one day, the heinous way in which Jaggernauth died was the work of monsters.

“Rehana was a beautiful and loving person. I hope that there is justice for her. Somehow justice will come, not in the form of another murder or violence, but justice will come.”

He advised the mourners to be careful with the choices they made, because each choice had an effect on the people associated with them.

“Rehana did not choose for this to happen, but unfortunately it did, and the decision to take her life abruptly, would have serious effects on her children and family.”

Jaggernauth's stepfather, Sase Maharaj, described his daughter as a hardworking woman and family oriented and said the rumours circulating about her demise were untrue.

“People will say anything. Rena was hardworking, she liked to take a lil’ drink and lime, she was fun. That was her personality.

“Her family does not even know how this happened. We are waiting for the police investigation to tell us what really happened, but that has been very slow so far. We want justice for Rena.”

Jaggernauth who lived in Marac Village, Moruga, 32, was married and a mother of three children.

Police reports said she was visiting her family in Enterprise, Chaguanas for a prayer service for her deceased father and was last seen alive on November 12.

A missing person report was filed the next day, police said, and on November 14, her decomposing body was found in the Guayamare River.

Officers of the Homicide Bureau Region III on Saturday said they had no leads yet in the investigation.

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