Child stabbed, police reveal

(CNS): Following a post-mortem examination Friday, the police confirmed that 6-year-old Bethany Gabriel Butler died from multiple stab wounds. The little girl’s body was found by police in the early hours of Monday morning in a car parked just off Queens Highway. Although her mother, Tamara Olita Butler, has been arrested on suspicion of her murder, she is currently in hospital, having been admitted under the mental health law and has not yet been interviewed. Soon after Bethany’s body was found the child’s mother was arrested a short distance from the car. Police said she had been treated in hospital for superficial cuts. It is understood that Butler had attempted to take her own life before she was arrested on suspicion of killing her daughter. (Photo Tamara Butler with Bethany)

Butler has not yet been charged with murder and she remains under police guard at the hospital while a period of observation is conducted to assess her condition and suitability for interview by the officers conducting the investigation. The RCIPS said it is working very closely with the HSA and Butler’s family, who have now arrived on island, and the director of public prosecutions has been consulted throughout this process. Bethany’s father is a serving police officer with the RCIPS.

The child’s death and the circumstances surrounding her murder have rocked the community and government has organised counselling for the children and staff at her primary school in Savannah.

Officials said Thursday that the terrible tragedy has had a powerful impact on the entire school community.

“The Department of Education Services’ critical response team has been working closely with the school since we were first advised of this incident,” a spokesperson from the department said. “Members of the team were at the school (Wednesday) to meet with members of the school community and continue to be available to provide needed support.”

Bethany Butler was a Year 2 student at Savannah Primary and officials said that any parent who wish to seek counselling support for their children or who would like advice on how to deal with this issue with their child are urged to contact Raven Ramoon at the DES Student Services office at 926-8469 to arrange for support.

The response team also met with staff on Friday morning to offer their support and to help them prepare for the opening of school on Monday after the mid-term break. The team and counsellors from across the education system will also be at the school on Monday to provide support for students and staff.