School pays tribute to murdered student

Standing in the multipurpose hall where Mariah Seenath, 14, gained her reputation as an exceptional sports player, relatives joined students and staff of San Fernando East Secondary School on Friday to pay tribute to the life tragically and violently snatched a week ago.

Parts of the stage were plastered with her photos and messages written by schoolmates. The brief service featured poems and spoken word pieces by teachers while Seenath's friends shared fond memories and offered condolences to her family.

One of her 14-year-old friends recalled speaking with Seenath the day before she was killed as they made plans for when they saw each other at school on Monday. A 15-year-old friend urged her schoolmates always to be kind to each other, because you could never tell which moment would be your last or what someone was facing in their private life.

Her physical education teacher since Form One, Linda Bramble-Thompson, said she was an exceptional athlete.

"The skills that Mariah possessed in every single sport she played, she was excellent. Even with the marathon she came in with the top ten, beating out a lot of the males, females, even the teachers."

Bramble-Thompson said Seenath was also a model student, quiet, innocent, who was never rude or disrespectful.

"Let's all take a page from Mariah's book. We don't know when it's going to be our last day so let's live our lives pleasing to God."

Describing her as a light that flew into the sun, drama teacher Andy Motilal's spoken word piece said Seenath was rooted in courage, among many other traits. Following a prayer on her behalf, relatives joined Seenath's classmates to release balloons in her honour.

Seenath's funeral takes place on September 27 at 9 am at the Open Bible Church in St John's.

Seenath was found dead in some bushes off a track that she and her relatives would use as a shortcut near the Friendship Recreation Ground, Ste Madeleine, on September 20. An autopsy determined she died from blunt force trauma to her head, likely from being beaten.