Camille Leonce (left) and her daughter, Paris Leonce, at Victoria Hospital. The baby was asleep at the time the photo was taken.
The mother of the four-month-old girl who was stabbed by her father in a hostage stand-off yesterday afternoon (Dec. 29), is relieved that her child’s wounds are not life-threatening.
The baby, Paris Leonce, who officially turned four months old yesterday, sustained three lacerations to the elbow, back and right side. She was admitted in stable condition in the children’s ward at Victoria Hospital. Reports are that she is “doing well”.
Police have arrested the child’s father, 26-year-old Kevin Edward, aka Tumpy, of Bishop’s Gap, Castries.
In an exclusive interview with St. Lucia News Online (SNO), the baby’s mother, 20-year-old Camille Leonce of Sarrot, Castries, explained what transpired yesterday.
Camille said she had arranged for Edward’s grandmother to pick up baby Paris at her work place in Castries in the morning and bring her by Edward in Bishop’s Gap. The grandmother was scheduled to return Paris later that afternoon.
However, sometime around 4:50 p.m., Camille got a surprise cell-phone call from Edward, who made a strange demand.
“He told me that he is sick and to come (at his house) to call his doctor to give him his medication. He said if I didn’t come he would stab the baby,” Camille said.
Again, the young mother took the threat seriously and wasted no time. After speaking to her supervisor, Camille said she reported the matter to the police.
Accompanied by three officers, Camille headed to Bishop’s Gap, hoping that her child was safe.
On arrival, she met another officer who informed her that Edward, who was armed with a long knife and an ice pick, threatened to harm the baby if his demands for medication were not met.
She said the police officers, at the time, tried in vain to persuade Edward to hand over the baby. Too frightened to witness the ordeal, Camille left the scene within five minutes of her arrival and headed for the Marchand Police Station.
Camille said she left the station after officers asked for her assistance in the negotiation. However, half-way to the scene, Camille said she decided to go no further after she heard a man mentioned that Edward stabbed the baby. This was confirmed moments later by a female officer who hugged her in tears.
According to police sources, the stand-off lasted about three hours. With the assistance of a relative, the officers were able to subdue Edward without incident.
A police source said the baby, who was bleeding profusely from her wounds, was rushed to hospital. The mother followed shortly after in a police vehicle.
Camille told SNO that when she arrived at Victoria Hospital she observed “surgery” being done on her baby.
Asked to describe how she felt at that time, Camille said she was not only scared of losing her only child, but she was in disbelief: “I was wondering why, why he had to do that to his own child.”
Camille alleged that she broke off the 17-month relationship with Edward on November 19 this year, after he told her he had acid, during an argument.
Having experienced a similar incident before, Camille took the threat seriously and reported the matter to the police who arrested Edward. During the arrest action, a knife was allegedly discovered in Edward’s bag. He spent almost a week at Custody Suites.
Asked if Edward suffers from mental illness, Camille said she is not aware of such.
“Not that I know, but I was told by his (a relative) that he had a nervous breakdown after the acid (threat) incident,” she said, adding that over the last couple of months Edward’s attitude had changed drastically. She said he appeared to be more aggressive and despondent.