WESTERN BUREAU:

More than 24 hours after four-year-old Javon Jathan's twin sister had died in a freak accident, he was still holding firm to his belief that "Nastacia gone to the doctor and soon come back home".

Just before twilight, Javon was with other children on a playing field at Mint Road, Grange Hill, Westmoreland, where his sister had died, totally oblivious of the fact that she would never return home again.

Nastacia, Javon and other children were playing a game about 4 p.m. on Sunday when an old, rotted goalpost dropped on her head and pinned her to the ground.

"I was at work when I got a phone call that my stepdaughter dead. I met them on the way to the hospital, but I knew she was already dead. The doctor confirmed it as soon as we got to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital," said Hasani Malcolm, as his eyes welled with tears. "I have been their father ever since they were babies. Before I left the house Sunday morning, I called Nastacia, gave her a kiss and promised to take sweet for her when I returned from work."

prescription drugs

Nastacia's mother, Stacey-Ann Henry, was too devastated to speak. She has been on prescription drugs since Sunday's incident.

Kavelle Drummond, Nastacia's 13-year-old cousin, said while the children were playing, they shook the goalpost. "Nastacia saw that it was falling so she tried running, but it fell on top of her," she recalls.

Since the accident the goalpost has been draped with black cloth. Flowers have also been placed at the spot where Nastacia died.

Malcolm, like other residents, said two other children had previously been injured by the same goalpost. A boy, 12, had his leg broken about a month ago, while another received approximately 20 stitches after he was hurt.

It had been reported that for some time the goalpost was being held up by a stone and piece of iron during football games, after which it was usually laid on the ground.

Inspector Sean Baker of the Grange Hill Police Station said no one had been held responsible for the accident, adding that investigations were continuing.