"If I had custody, Amarah would be alive," says father of 4-year-old killed by stepfather

Trinidad and Tobago: Shannon Lallite, the father of the four-year-old Amarah who was brutally murdered by her stepfather, said that if the child was with her, she would have been alive today. He said that he had been trying to gain her daughter's custody for a long time. Shannon reported that he was forcefully kept out of her child's life for the last three years by her mother, Tricia Villaruel. He was even told by the police that he could not file for custody, following which he tried to contact Amarah's mother, but she never responded. While saying that he continuously tried, the father outlined that he tried again and again and recalled that once he tried to give the child's mother $1500 and a whole big bag of clothes for her daughter, the mother came outside and shouted and she did not want anything from him and threatened to call the police officials.

Villaruel resided at the 5th street, Five Rivers, Arouca since the last three years and added he could not have done anything more for his child because he had no contact with her.

Shannon also said that he found out about her murder from his brother, who rushed to his house upon hearing the development.

According to the police, on Monday night, the child's mother came running to the police station and said that she needed help. She reported that her common-law husband abused her and kept her 4-year-old child hostage. [caption id="attachment_70279" align="aligncenter" width="402"] 4-year-old Amarah brutally beheaded in Trinidad, suspect in custody[/caption]

Upon receiving the news, police officials rushed to her residence and found the child's body in one of her bedrooms while her head was found in a barrel at the back of the home.

Senior Superintendent Richard Smith also said that on witnessing the brutal scene, some of his officers broke down and cried, and some are so traumatised that they need counselling.

Meanwhile, the officials have arrested the 39-year-old suspect, who the neighbours described as always quiet, a bit odd but never violent.