TROY, Trelawny — Huddled on the verandah of their family home, relatives of 10-year-old Shani “Kaidra” Coke, whose partially nude body was found with her throat slashed on Tuesday, remembered the child for her brilliance and radiant smile. “Shani was born here and lived [with her grandparents], because her [mother] has to work. When Shani goes to school she doesn’t play around.
From Shani a go basic school she was always first [in her class]. She was always putting out her best. She is from an educated background.
Her father is educated and so is her mother,” the child’s aunt Shawna Williams-Stevens told journalists on Wednesday as she stood beside her grieving sister, Shani’s mother Ackeem “Kim” Williams. The aunt’s hands could not hold the many academic trophies and certificates earned by Shani during her tenure at Troy Primary School. Relatives of 10-year-old Shani Coke huddle together on their verandah in Tyre district, Troy, south Trelawny on Wednesday.
(Photo: Kasey Williams) “From grade one her teachers rewarded her, whether with a stamp in her book or sweets, or you know the teachers always try to elevate her for her to know that she does good. Her mother would always buy her gifts to encourage her,” said Williams-Stevens. “Right now she was [among] the top students at Troy Primary.
If school was keeping it would have to lock today, because of Shani,” added the aunt, while pointing out that up to last Friday Shani was recognised for her participation in summer school. “All last week she got her certificate to show her brilliance. When you look at her you see the next doctor, lawyer, and they just took her life, just cut her off.
Right now we don’t know our head from our feet. Maybe Kaidra was going to come and take her mother out of poverty and they cut her life short and kill her,” Williams-Stevens said before breaking down in tears. According to a police report, as well as the account of residents, mid-afternoon Tuesday Shani was walking home from a shop along a roadway near her home when she was abducted.
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