The dad of one of many three youngsters allegedly drowned by their mom on Coney Island mentioned Monday that he can’t even bear to consider how his 4-year-old daughter died — however nonetheless insisted his ex isn’t a “monster.’’
Shamir Small spoke after his youngster Liliana “Lily” Stephen was laid to relaxation carrying a pink costume in a white casket, which was carried out of the Caribe Funeral Residence in Flatlands, Brooklyn, by weeping feminine kin.
“I don’t need her to be remembered or often known as how she handed,” the dad mentioned of his daughter, who was allegedly killed alongside along with her two half-siblings by their deeply disturbed mother.
“I don’t even need to hear about it anymore,” he mentioned. “Don’t need to see it, learn it, or nothing. I simply need everybody to do not forget that Lily, for 4 years, was cherished by all her members of the family.
“Opposite to what occurred, she was cherished by her mom,” Small mentioned.
“I don’t care what nobody says,” he mentioned. “What [the suspect] did was monstrous, however she herself isn't a monster.”
Lily and her two brothers — Zachary Merdy, 7, and 3-month-old Oliver Bondarev — had been allegedly drowned by their mother, Erin Merdy, within the surf at Coney Island in Brooklyn on Sept. 12.
Merdy, 30, is awaiting arraignment on homicide fees however has not been medically cleared to seem in court docket, Brooklyn prosecutors mentioned Monday.
Beneath state legislation, Brooklyn prosecutors have till tomorrow to announce if a grand jury voted to indict her on homicide fees within the case.
Liliana Stephen's white casket was carried by weeping feminine kin.
Liliana Stephen's funeral was held at Caribe Funeral Residence in Brooklyn.
Members of the family arrive on the funeral residence.
A member of the family carries balloons as she enters the funeral residence.
Members of the family arrive on the funeral for Liliana Stephen.
Lily’s funeral was the primary held for the younger victims.
A Barbie doll was positioned on her little casket through the emotional service. She was to be buried in Cypress, Queens.
“My favourite reminiscences of Lily is principally her wanting to bounce,” Small mentioned. “She did ballet, rhythm gymnastics. She clearly cherished it greater than she cherished me as a result of she didn't need me to take her away from it.”
Mourners had been greeted by a big picture of a smiling Lily on the entrance to the funeral residence, with a balloon close by with the phrases, “I really like you.”
“There isn’t actually any clear solutions that somebody can provide that provides affordable motive or affordable excuses,” the Rev. Heston Williams, pastor of Brooklyn’s Function Life Church, mentioned exterior the funeral residence.
Williams described Lily as “a sassy younger woman that was lively.
“We seek advice from her within the current tense, and never the previous tense,” he mentioned. “So, it’s not that she was however that she is. Which is a part of the message I can be sharing with the household.”
As for her accused murderous mother, Williams mentioned he's praying for her.
“We don’t use this as a chance to sentence or to talk evil,” he mentioned. “It is a scenario nobody can fathom, nobody can perceive. I do consider that it's our duty, not less than myself as a pastor, to wish for everybody and anybody.”
Post a Comment