Kaieteur News Reports : Fifteen-year-old Tiana Chapman, who was stabbed more than 25 times by the father of her child, says she is relieved that her attacker has been apprehended and is in police custody, but is now calling on authorities to “hasten” the delivery of justice.
In her first interview since the assault, Chapman, of Pepper Street, Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, told Kaieteur News that she is feeling safer and has been recovering steadily, though she continues to experience some pain.
Chapman identified her attacker as 28-year-old Christopher Ali, whom she said must be punished for the attack. She indicated she would be satisfied with a sentence of life in prison.
The teen mother said she was attacked on February 24 after her ex-boyfriend allegedly sneaked into the home while it was dark. Chapman told reporters that earlier Ali had visited a friend’s house where she was staying, but she instructed her friend to tell him she was not there. Later that evening, Chapman said she accompanied her friend to bathe when Ali allegedly attacked her from behind, leaving her severely injured. She said her friend ran upstairs and Ali fled.
Chapman also described alleged abuse during their relationship and said that a week before the stabbing, Ali hinted at killing her. She recounted that Ali called and requested to see their baby, and that they went ahead with preparations for him to see the child. She said that once the door was opened, Ali reportedly had a knife and threatened to kill her.
She said she has received no paternal maintenance, adding that Ali sometimes only requests to see the child.
After the stabbing, Chapman was taken to New Amsterdam Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She was discharged about two weeks later, but Ali was still at large, which she said caused ongoing concern for her safety. She noted that last Friday, however, Ali was caught.
Kaieteur News reported that Ali was handed over to police in Region Six, but not before he was allegedly assaulted by vigilantes after being captured near the Berbice River. The report said Ali had evaded police for about two weeks before information about his sighting circulated widely online.
Ali remains in police custody as investigations continue.
