Pastor asks family of murdered bank worker to forgive her killers

A Baptist pastor has appealed to the family of Crystal Giselle Peters to forgive the people who murdered her.

Pastor Warren Simon made this appeal during Peters' funeral service at Mt Zion Independent Baptist Church, Piparo on August 3.

Peters was a premium loans officer at Scotiabank's branch at High Street, San Fernando.

On July 27, Peters was beaten in front of her children while visiting her home, which is under construction at Reform Residential Phase II, a housing development in the Gasparillo district.

She had gone to check on the progress of the house, which she usually did on weekends.

Three masked men who wore gloves ordered the children, six and nine, into another room.

A short time later, her body, with a knife in her neck, was found on the first floor of the two-storey structure.

The killers left in a getaway car.

Investigations are ongoing.

After telling the story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion at Calvary Hill and how he forgave the people who put him to death, Simon urged Peters' family to show forgiveness to her killers.

"I want to encourage the family. You don't have to do anybody anything but anyone could do you wrong."

Simon said, "I pray that you all as a family will say like Jesus...I don't know what my sister did. I don't know what happened. But she is dead. My loving sister is dead and do like Jesus."

He repeated, "Father. Whoever it is. Father forgive them for they know not what they have done."

Simon reminded the congregation that the Bible teaches that vengeance belongs to God alone.

"I shall repay."

He told Peters' family they had to heal in the aftermath of her death.

"If you want healing to take place in the family, then you have to look to forgive."

Simon said people may always want justice or vengeance when their loved ones are murdered.

But he added, "The more you harbour that hate and that anger, the longer you take to be healed."

Simon acknowledged that most people would prefer to hold on to hate and not forgive those who committed a crime in such situations.

But he reminded the congregation, "A child of God was called to forgive under circumstances like what you are experiencing right now.

Simon said God tests people in all kinds of situations.

Pastor David Richardson, who also addressed the congregation, agreed with Simon.

"The only comfort that you could rely on, is the word of God."

He related a personal experience where a close relative of his was murdered.

Richardson told the congregation that he sat regularly at the place where his relative died and grieved.

But he said he realised "only time will heal your wounds."

Richardson added that his relative's death had a silver lining in bringing the entire family together.

Other relatives and friends of Peters remembered her as a loving wife, a devoted mother and a good friend.