By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (FEBRUARY 2018)– A grieving Aunt Brenda who expressed during her tribute that revenge belongs to the Lord in relation to “whoever did this to Shaquille” set the tone surrounding the young man’s recent death which also saw the officiating minister Pastor Mathew Hepburn adding his voice to the controversial matter at this week’s funeral service.
The lifeless body of 23-year-old Shaquille ‘Shaq’ Pemberton of New Road, St. Peter’s was found in the Gillards Meadows area (in St. Peter’s ) on Saturday 27th January by a passer-by who reported it to the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services which in turn then reported it police.
Monday 12th February, scores of mourners-such as family members (including his father well-known businessman Nigel Arthurton), friends, members of Kollision Band and coworkers from Park Hyatt St.Kitts- gathered at the New Testament Church Of God located on Central Street for the funeral service which was originally slated to take place on Thursday 8th February.
Speaking about the deceased’s humbleness known to many people, the pastor talked about the unfortunate incident happening to someone like Pemberton “who can’t even mash ants”.
He added: “What he could have done so?! That is to show you how wicked the world has become!”
Periodically during the service while commenting on the matter, Pastor Hepburn stood before Arthurton talking to him directly.
“We need truth and justice must prevail, justice must prevail! Glory to God. Nigel Your heart is aching and this is your son, this is somebody from your loins,” he remarked in part.
Pall bearers proceed to place the body of 23-year-old Shaquille Pemberton in the hearse following the funeral church service for burial at the Springfield Cemetery (Spokesman Snap)
Widespread public debate concerning Pemberton’s death continued after police had revealed that the forensic pathologist (Dr. Valery Alexandrov) changed his ruling on the natural causes autopsy results after lab tests conducted overseas.
The autopsy results publicised in a police press release- dated Saturday 3rd February- withdrew Dr. Alexandrov’s initial report which indicated that death was as a result of natural causes.
A follow-up press release issued some three days after (6th February) disclosed that since undertaking further laboratory tests in Trinidad, Dr. Alexandrov had revised his opinion and ruled that the method of death is “undetermined.”
The conflicting autopsy results was addressed by Pastor Hepburn who stated: “You can’t half cook up something and just throw it down the family face and say pneumonia and this and that an all kind of nonsense! Nonsense!”
He is of the view that members of the public should have protested the issue.
“The whole of St.Kitts should have protest against this! The whole of St.Kitts should have gone to the Police Headquarters and in front of the Government (Headquarters) and protest this until we get an answer!”
Pastor Hepburn’s passionate comments caused an emotional uproar which saw many people voicing and cheering in agreement with what he was saying.
On the suggestion about protesting, one woman was heard shouting: “Nigel, Let’s go now!”
Pastor Hepburn lashed out at the authorities for poorly handling the case and suggested that more should have been done.
“If you can’t do the job (then) call in somebody from America to do it; bring in a forensic pathologist to do the job! You must get it done properly! Because me ah tell you de truth enuh if it was my child, the government woulda had to bear the cost of that because me wasn’t giving up until they give me the right thing enuh!….because somebody has to challenge the authorities! The thing with Kittitians, they talk a lot but they don’t back up their actions when dem ah talk! Somebody need to challenge the authorities Lord Father God to bring in a lawyer from overseas…..and let justice be served! This is a child! This is somebody’s child. He can’t die like a criminal!”
In offering comforting words to Aurthurton and other relatives, Pastor Hepburn calmly commented: “The answer for everything is in prayer. God shows people things; He’s a revealer. He shows things to people. The answer to everything is in prayer. Glory to God.”
Two days after the funeral service, the deceased’s father (Nigel Arthurton) during an interview informed this reporter that the service was postponed because the original death certificate could not be used for the burial on that day.
“He couldn’t bury with that certificate and because of the results that they gave me, they took it back so they had to change everything from the death certificate.”
Arthurton shared his disappointed pertaining Dr. Alexandrov’s “mistake”.
“How could you be in a field so long and make such a mistake?” he questioned whilst adding “ I now blame the police to accept something like that.”
According to him: “There are a lot of questions out there to ask …and for me I’m very much disappointed and hurt knowing that we are not getting anywhere.”
“You (the local authorities) hired someone to come do so something and knowing that they didn’t do it properly, what are you going to do next?,” asked the teary-eyed father.