‘Blunt force trauma’

Amid widespread uproar over the death of four-year-old D’Onya “Bella” Walker on Friday, police confirmed last night that she died as a result of “blunt force trauma to the body, which resulted in multiple fractures”.

Over the weekend, police said the child, a resident of Major Subdivision on New Providence, was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital unresponsive around 5 p.m. Friday.

She sustained “several injuries to her body”. 

Police at the time labeled the incident a “suspicious death” and said they will await an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. 

The results were announced after 9 o’clock last night.

Police did not provide any further details, but confirmed that a man and woman taken into custody after the child’s death were still being held.

Their relationship to the girl was not revealed.

Reports of Bella’s death sparked national outrage with many concluding even in the absence of any official reports what led to the child’s death.

There was reaction from all sector of society over the last few days. 

On the weekend, one Cabinet minister, JoBeth Coleby-Davis, in response to the incident, tweeted that “more must be done through legislation and policies in the fight against sexual abuse”.

There have been no reports from police on whether the child was sexually abused. 

On Monday, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said he was “deeply distressed” by the child’s death.

“That a child should die in the circumstances being reported rightly stirs up the most profound feelings of disbelief, revulsion and profound sadness,” said Davis, expressing hopes that justice will be served.

On Sunday, Bahamas Crisis Centre Director Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson told The Nassau Guardian news of Bella’s killing was her “worst nightmare”.

“At the center, we always say that our worst nightmare is for a child to die as a result of some kind of abuse or some kind of violation,” she said.

“And this points to the need for our continued awareness raising, consciousness raising and making the whole community alert to the fact that this can happen.”

In a statement on Monday night, The Bahamas Christian Council said it is outraged, shocked and saddened at the news of the assault and subsequent death of the young girl.

“This alleged act that is purported to have been inflicted on this child is not only vicious but diabolical and we believe that the perpetrator once convicted should face the most severe punishment our courts extend,” the Christian Council said.

“As pastors who are also fathers and mothers, we are heartbroken and devastated to learn of the alleged experience that this precious little girl was made to endure.”

It added, “We must also join forces as a society to create stronger safety nets that ensure that the innocence as well as the lives of our children are protected.”

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