WATCH: Counselling sessions underway at Esher Primary after murder of 9-y-o schoolgirl
HANOVER, Jamaica – Counselling sessions are underway with students and academic staff at Esher Primary School in Lucea, Hanover following the brutal murder of nine-year-old Nikita Noel.
Noel’s desk has been adorned with flowers and messages from her classmates.
Officials from the Ministry of Education are currently providing grief counselling and consoling her classmates, who have been moved to tears.
“I hope you’re having a nice day in heaven,” one of the notes read.
Reports are that Noel did not return home from school on Wednesday afternoon. She was later found metres away from her home. It is believed that she was raped and strangled to death.
READ: Suspect held in rape, murder of 9-year-old girl
Esher Primary Principal Anthonette Wright told OBSERVER ONLINE that she is saddened by the tragic accident.
“We are saddened by this incident. We are deeply hurt,” said a distraught Wright.
Wright said on Wednesday afternoon, Noel happily indicated to her teachers that she would see them the following day [Thursday].
“It was just yesterday afternoon wherein some of the teachers would have witnessed Nikita saying ‘teacher, the taxi is here, we are going to leave now I will see you tomorrow’”, Wright told OBSERVER ONLINE.
“And just to hear that there is no tomorrow for Nikita, we don’t even have words to express,” she added.
Noel’s mother, Nordia Edwards, said that her daughter was a jovial child who did not give trouble.
“It’s dreadful. It hurt. She was very jovial, not a person who give trouble. When mi sen har gah school, she guh school and she come straight home – she nuh stop a people place nor nutten. And dis one, it hurt cause it jus close to home. Mi weak. Mi weak,” Edwards said.
READ: ‘It’s dreadful, it hurts’ – Mother of 9-y-o Hanover schoolgirl devasted after losing only daughter
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area One, Clifford Chambers, has revealed that a suspect, who may be known to the family, is held in relation to the murder.
READ: UPDATE: Suspect in rape, murder of 9-y-o Hanover girl known to family – Police
