Senior Reporter
jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt
Hannah Mathura’s siblings say although they have not been officially informed that the bones found in their backyard are of their sister, the latest information is an emotional weight off their shoulders.
In a statement through their attorneys Sanjiv Boodhu and Sasha Singh, the siblings said the lack of confirmation by the police is hindering their plans to have a funeral for Hannah.
Their attorneys said: “Should the children receive such confirmation, they are prepared to do what is necessary to ensure that Hannah’s last rites are observed.”
The siblings said they bore significant pain and experienced a darkness that has weighed heavily on them for several years.
The statement made on their behalf added that they are “recovering from emotional trauma and are finally able to begin rising out of a terribly unfortunate situation, which had the effect of constricting them and isolating them from the norms of everyday life.”
“Coming to terms with loss has not been easy. With hopes of closure and aspirations of progressing their lives, they await formal communication from the authorities as to the next step,” their attorneys said.
Hannah’s bones were excavated from the backyard of her Butu Road, Valsayn home on March 12. Information given to the police by a family member was that Hannah died and was buried in the backyard in June 2017.
Her parents were arrested shortly after her remains were found but later released pending further inquiries.
Hannah’s siblings have since sought legal representation and have co-operated with police in the inquiry.
DNA tests done on the bone marrow and biological tissue-like cartilage remaining from decomposed skeletal remains were cross-referenced with Hannah’s siblings to confirm that they were related.