Cay Hill:--- Several police officers were at the St. Maarten Medical Center and a home on A.T Illidge Road on Saturday afternoon investigating the death of three year old Anjali Singh. The little girl was shot with a flare gun while sleeping in her bed by her seven year old brother.The father of the children identified as Nandrai "Avinnash" Singh (33) an employee at Bobby's Marina was arrested by police moments after his daughter passed away in the intensive care unit of the St. Maarten Medical Center around 05:30 pm Saturday afternoon. Police also escorted the children's mother Celina Singh and her seven year old son Rahul to the Philipsburg Police station for questioning.
The mother of the two children said the children were in their bed and at some point Rahul went into a drawer and removed the flare gun and was playing with it next to his little sister when the gun went off hitting Anjali in the head. The mother also said she was in the living room when the incident occurred. The incident has clearly left little Rahul shocked. Neighbors said the little boy sat in the same location for about three hours without speaking or saying anything to anyone
The little girl was burnt on her face and head where the flare entered. Neighbors rushed Anjali who was unconscious the moment she got hit by the flare to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment. According to one of the neighbors, they tried calling the ambulance department and 911 but no one answered the phone so the public spirited neighbors decided to rush the child to the hospital.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said the father will most likely be charged with causing a homicide through negligence and the possession of an illegal firearm. Mos said the investigation is in its preliminary stages but the police would have to determine if the father has a license to carry a flare gun. Mos also said the body of the three year old victim was confiscated as they continue their investigations.Several experts in the marine industry said a flare gun is not a firearm neither is it an illegal weapon. They said even minors can walk into the marine shops at Bobby's Marina or Island Water World and purchase a flare gun.
"Flare guns are used in cases of emergencies and the father in this case is boat fabricator who sometimes works at sea. Yes, we know it's a dangerous item to have in a home but the police needs to know what is in the firearm ordinance before they arrest and charge people."
Attorney at law Shaira Bommel, the lawyer representing Nandrai Singh said the police is making mistake because they think a flare gun is considered to be an Alarm Pistol in the firearms ordinance, but that is not the case. A flare is not a fire arm and it is not in the fire arm ordinance.
