Sandy Ground:--- The grandparents of three and half year (3 1/2) old Damien Paulino Adams who was beaten to death by his father is now seeking financial assistance from the public to bury the young victim. In an exclusive interview with SMN News Adams Paulino, the child's grandfather said that he was informed by the gendarmerie that they have released the body to the family for burial. "I was told by Monday or Tuesday I can arrange for the funeral."Adams said his grandson met his demise on July 7th and only now the gendarmes released his body for burial. Adams who is currently not working and residing in Sandy Ground said he is in a financial predicament and is unable to find monies for the burial. He said since the tragic incident friends donated blocks and other materials for the grave which was completed on Saturday but he cannot come up with the monies needed for the funeral. Adams said the Social Services of the Collectivity of St. Martin will be paying for some of the expenses, such as the hospital. The bereaved grandfather said he was also informed that the Social Services would also pay part of the funeral expenses.
"I met with the lady from the funeral home and she told me I have to pay at least half of the amount before they pick up the corpse and prepare it for burial. I do not have fixed job, I do odd jobs to put food on the table and to pay my bills." Adams who was obviously distressed when SMN News interviewed him said despite his financial problems he is also seeking custody of his two other grand children who were placed in protective custody since the killing. "I have two other minor children and my wife and I am prepared to feed our grandchildren. So far I did not get any assurance as to when my grandchildren will come home, but I know with the help of JESUS I will get them."
SMN News contacted Managing Director of Emerald Funeral Home and the number 13 candidate on the United People's Party (UP) Sylvia Meyers to see if the funeral home is willing to assist the family. Meyers who hails from the French side of the island said management of Emerald Funeral Home would provide the assistance and take care of the funeral. Meyers said she wished the family or anyone else dealing with this tragedy had contacted her or her husband Toochie Meyers before going public. "Even though we are there to do business we also assist the people in our community who are in financial distress." Anyone who is willing to make donations to the Adams family are asked to contact Paulino Adams at 00590 690 22 85 47.
Who Killed Baby Damien?
When the community of St. Martin learned of the killing of the three year old, several people expressed disgust at the parents and the immediate family of Damien Paulino Adams. Many persons in the community wanted to take revenge, saying adults should not take advantage on little children. In an effort to learnt more on how the youngster died and to know who the allege killers are we questioned the grandparents.
Paulino Adams said his daughter and her boyfriend was not living at his house when the father and alleged killer killed his grandson. Adams said some fifteen days before the killing he asked the man to get out of his house and his daughter who is currently in jail in Guadeloupe left with the man she claimed to love taking with her the three children. Adams said his 27- year old daughter has a 7-year old who is partly handicap, the three year old who was killed, and an 18 months old child.
About the Children's Father and Alleged Killer.
Adams said the children's father is known to be aggressive and abusive especially when he uses illegal drugs. The man whom he identified as 32 year old L.B from France is constantly in fights. He said L.B and his daughter were not living together all the time. Many times they broke up, they were not a serious couple. Every place that man lived he had problems with his neighbors and he had to move out. He said when he asked L.B to leave his dwelling he went to stay with some people in St. Louis and shortly after that they had to move because of his behavior. At the time of the incident the couple was living in a car. "I heard they had paid for an apartment and was waiting for it, but I don't know if that is true."
The grandfather said he was in the Dominican Republic with his wife and two of his minor children when they received a phone call from one of his daughters telling him to return to St. Martin because the "man" wanted to beat all the people living in his house. At the time Adams said he had two daughters in his Sandy Ground home and his three grandchildren. "That man was not on the island when I left he was in France and the minute he came back we had problems at our house. Look at that hole in the lattice wood, he took a rock and pelt after my daughter leaving that big hole on it."
Asked if they ever witnessed the man beating the children, Adams and his wife said they never saw him beating the children but he was always punishing them. "The man was always very harsh with the children, they were always on punishment."
Asked who beat little Damien and why he was beaten to death, Adams said based on the information he got, since he was not there is that little Damien had peed his pants and his father got into a rage and began beating him. Asked why the gendarme arrested his daughter if she did not take part in the beating and the killing of her son. Adams said the gendarme told his daughter that she did not do anything to help the infant. She could have called for help and taken him earlier to the hospital they said.
Adams explained that his daughter was in complete fear of the man. "My wife spoke to her before they took her to Guadeloupe and we asked her that and she said that she was afraid to leave the baby and the 7 year old that is partly handicap with the father. My daughter said she wanted to take the child immediately to the hospital but the father stopped her. "She was so afraid it is as if the man was holding a gun at her head and she feared leaving the other two children because he might have beaten them to death too."
Currently both parents are held in Guadeloupe as the investigation is ongoing. It is not clear at this time what charges would be laid against the mother or if she would be released. Efforts made to contact Prosecutor Jacques Louvier proved futile. SMN News will continue to monitor the developments of this case.
