Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 17, 2011 News
-‘he didn’t look as if he could harm a fly’
Accused child killer John Blanchard was only placed in isolation at the Camp Street Prison after receiving a second vicious beating at the hands of some inmates, an official confirmed yesterday.
According to reports, Blanchard, currently on remand for the murder of two of his three children, Belika and Daniel Blanchard, was attacked and beaten by fellow inmates on Friday evening. This occurred even as news broke that the third child, had succumbed in the GPHC’s Intensive Care Unit.
He was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, before being taken back to the Camp Street penitentiary.
At around 19:30 hours on Saturday, he sustained another thrashing at the hands of other prisoners.
Director of Prisons Mr. Dale Erskine has confirmed that early Sunday morning Blanchard was released back into the prison care and he was finally placed into isolation. He noted that both incidents will be investigated and if necessary charges will be instituted.
Meanwhile, residents of Soesdyke held a vigil on Saturday for the three slain children, two of whom attended the St. Mary’s Primary School in Soesdyke. This publication was told that classes in the school have been disrupted as a result of the tragedy.
One teacher said the students of his class have been unable to focus on their class-work.
“Not only their class mates are traumatized but other children of the school who knew the children,” he said.
Yet another said he was forced to abandoned classes after he realized that most of his class was in tears, and for the remainder of the week the children all seem traumatized.
This has now raised the question from residents in the area about counselling being made available for the students.
Some residents who gathered at the vigil said this has been one of the most horrific incidents to have occurred in the community in recent times.
Teachers of the school recalled seeing the father at the school the day prior to the incident when he paid a visit to check on his daughters’ performance. Some speculated as to what could have triggered such a barbaric act.
“He seemed pretty interested in the children. He seemed very caring and calm…he didn’t even look as if he could harm a fly,” another teacher lamented.
“I can’t believe this these children are dead, most days you would see this man with his children taking them to the creek or to school. He always with them, something had to have gone wrong that night” another resident lamented. Many who spoke of Blanchard described him as a ‘very humble and quiet’ person who never showed any signs of being a violent person.
While some shared their sentiments of anger others called on the relevant authorities to offer the help he needs.
“The system will not help this man. It’s clear that he needs help. Locking him up in prison will not help him. Something went wrong…he appeared to have been more interested in these children’s wellbeing than the mother”.
Some residents expressed the view that there is more to the story and even expressed the view that the mother should have been investigated for possible neglect as it has been reported that on more than one occasion she left their home and her children in the care of other persons.
On Tuesday evening last Blanchard reportedly flew into a rage following a phone call with his wife, Onica Blanchard, who had left their home in search of a job in Mahdia.
The man reportedly stabbed and chopped his three children two of whom died before reaching the hospital. The third died on Saturday.
Blanchard has since been charged with the murders of Belika and Daniel and is expected to be charged for the murder of Joy. A post mortem examination is expected to be performed on Joy’s remains.
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God bless their little souls!!!!!!!!!!!!..for the parents..oh well………
It hurts to see these three children who never lived to see our world…death is too kind for the murderer…
At least they are now in a much better place than this world that so cruelly and ruthlessly snuffed their lives out.
it is rather regrettable that a father has so chosen to resolve a domestic matter in this manner.The time is ripe for all relevant organizations in Guyana to sit together and discuss issues arising out family crisis of this nature.While i hold the father solely responsible for this, the mother is not beyond blame because she showed reckless care for the well being of her children.She just abandoned them and went in pursuit of in her opinion a better life. I am sure she must have been the catalyst for this type of destruction and loss of life. I strongly suggest the church take on a leading role in resolving domestic issues. No amount of regret from either the father or mother can rewrite the wrong that was done. the conscience of them both will prick. The programs on TV should reflect more family values and be a forum for addressing domestic matters. Ensure there is a hotline to call in domestic violence.
The mother should not be blame for the death of the children. You cannot say that she abandoned the children when she left them in the care of their father. If there is a financial crisis in the home both mother and father must sit at home and look at the children in their eyes when they cry hungry?. The mother took the bold step in going out to look for help for her children. The father skin is sweet, he wants to play the maid, so he have to take care of the children. He is so big and strong, he should have been throwing shovel and spade to maintain his family. He needs some more beating every week. He was lucky the prison officers were there to save him. Who was there to save those little children?
I’m so angry with this man,but at the same time I ave to look at the other side not every person can take fustration they lose it in a split second that when we finish we say is this I just did,that is why we have to ask God everyday to guide us an our family an friends to show us the right path in life an put the right people in our lives an help us make the right choices only he we can trust an put our problems to,may their souls RIP.
from all accounts he seemed to care, but he snapped and that’s the worse that can happen to a human. thoughts can control an individual in a second. so sorry for all involved or affected.
Even the bad knows that that was cruel
Do we have counselors to provide some form of help for the students in the school?…..this is a very difficult period for them.
i love my children so much not even a mosquiter could bit them
I am sure he would have said the same.
he should be jailed for life and get a sound thrashing every hour of his life hez so sick!!!
alot of people look right in the head,but the can not take pressure ,but there are no excuse in the book for killing.there are millions of women who are looking for a good man in the world i was in that same boat. when i was in guyana .but i asked the lord to help me .with my strong faith and postive think i move from my wife and came to suriname where i met my real wife from holland my first wife was trying to kill me with wichcraft. ..i was losting my mind .a real man can walk throught fire with out getting burn .i real man can say no to drugs .smoking and bad things, weak mind people fall into bad habbits
their mother should have paid more interest to them
YES WHAT HE DID WAS IN EVERY ASPECT UNFAIR CRUEL AND BARBARIC… but i knw this man personally and he was one of the most humble persons i’ve ever encountered….this guy used to sell pastries in my area. i grew up as a child buying from him…THIS GUY WAS SO QUIET N HUMBLE N PEACEFUL..HE USED TO LIGHT UP THE STREET WITH HIS GRACES AND GOOD NATUREDNESS…..i dont know what happened….have any of u taken a good look at those kids???? this guy suffered he snapped he didnt think he just had a moment to collapse….i agree he must be punished….no doubting that…..BUT HE DOES NOT DESERVED TO BE BEATEN OR EVEN RAPED BY INMATES!!!!!!!!! THATS JUST AS EQUALLY CRUEL n lawless….is that what our society is allowing? then we shudnt calll our selves homophobic!!!!!!!!!!!……GOD IS THE FINAL JUDGE OF HIM…JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED BUT NOT BY THE BEATING TO DEATH OF A ANOTHER MAN….I DO SINCERELY GRIEVE FOR THE KIDS….CUDA A FUTURE MINISTER OR PRESIDENT OR DOCTOR OR SOMETHING…HE STOLE THIER LIVES BUTS LETS DO THE RIGHT THING AND PUNISH HIM LAWFULLY….
i have two sons, and there’s no way i’m leaving them with their father to go any where for too long where i go they go….my policy i couldn’t sleep knowing my kids is not near to me…for those little angels… r.i.p…
to amount of frustration and anger should ever to come the point where you murder your children!! he’ll get his. RIP babies,