Barkly - Attack on Little Lucia: The Minor Suspect Excluded

Title: Barkly - Attack on Little Lucia: The Minor Suspect Excluded

Content:

The perpetrator of the attack on six-year-old Lucia on November 24 in Barkly is still at large. On Tuesday, investigators interrogated a 17-year-old, who was released after providing his account.

A group of volunteers believed they had identified the suspected attacker a week after the incident. Following the child's parents' testimony shared on social media, they attempted to assist the police in locating the suspect.

On Monday evening, members of the Divisional Crime Intelligence Unit (DCIU) were called to assist in Chebel. Various police units, including CID, DSU, ERS, and Beau-Bassin police, were already on site. Approximately fifty people, seemingly hostile, were present after the group confronted a 17-year-old suspected of the attack.

Law enforcement officers intervened to ensure the safety of the teenager and escorted him to the Beau-Bassin police station, accompanied by his father. He was questioned about the attack on little Lucia, but his father insisted on defending him in the presence of their lawyer, Mᵉ Jean-Claude Bibi. He was then released on his own recognizance, with the requirement to return to the police station on Tuesday morning to provide his version of events.

The teenager, along with his parents and lawyer, was questioned at length on Tuesday. During his interrogation, he categorically denied attacking the child. He explained to investigators that on the day of the incident, around 11 a.m., he was at home with his mother and never went to Barkly. However, he noted that he knows the victim's family, as he had previously dated Lucia's older sister and they remained on good terms, he informed the police.

Strong Reactions

Following his interrogation, the teenager was allowed to leave. Investigations continue to locate the perpetrator of the attack, after which the child was hospitalized for five days.

"The police will conduct their investigation. Don’t put pictures of people like this on social media. A tragedy has occurred; we shouldn't create a fuss," stated Mᵉ Jean-Claude Bibi after the minor's interrogation on Tuesday.

This case has sparked significant reactions on social media. On November 24, little Lucia was home with her sister and 14-year-old brother when they were startled by an intruder. The suspect strangled the six-year-old before her older brother intervened to help her. The intruder brandished a knife and injured him before fleeing. Little Lucia was subsequently admitted to the hospital. Her parents lament the lack of security in the neighborhood.