Woman who killed three children speaks in court
Felicia Chen, the mother who is facing murder charges for her three children: four year old Triana, three year old Thomas the third and one-year-old Trinaya…appeared for the third time in court today. Chen has been in a Belmopan facility and not in prison since the murder of her children because of her mental state. This morning she addressed the court for the first time. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has that report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Twenty-two year old Felicia Chen, accused of the murders of her three children on April twenty-seventh, appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer today, where she was re-committed to the Palm View Center in Belmopan for further psychiatric treatment. In court this morning, the mother of four requested a transfer to the Belize Central Prison, where she would remain on pretrial detention. Chen’s reason for wanting to relocate to Hattieville is because she is often left alone at the facility where it is reportedly solitary. During the brief session, Chen also asked to see her surviving daughter, a six year old, who managed to escape death by running away from the scene of the incident at Belizean Beach.
But while Chen has been mentally evaluated and institutionalized, she has been treated differently by officers on her scheduled court dates. Comparatively speaking, twenty-six year old Jared Ranguy, formally charged for the brutal triple murders of his parents and sibling on November 27th, 2012, did not have his face concealed by his handlers. Instead, his perp walk was a public spectacle outside the courthouse. Chen, on the other hand, who was arraigned on April twenty-ninth, was shielded from news cameras, as well as the peering eyes of passersby.
When asked about the difference in modus operandi, we were told that the treatment succeeds the evaluation of Chen’s mental state. We note however, that in this case she was charged prior to that assessment. The Director of Public Prosecutions, in communicating with the media, says that at the time of Ranguy’s indictment the facility was not operational. She further states that Ranguy, who was immediately remanded to prison, was later seen by Dr. Francis Palacio, a resident psychologist. He remains under periodic evaluation. In conclusion, the DPP says that it is regrettable that the orders of the court would be construed as preferential treatment by the media.
Only in Belize
That’s caz Belize and Belizeans are racist and selective! Sure Ms. Chen was experiencing some sort of mental break down when she committed that hideous act – but I maintain, she had time to STOP!
She is now trying to further the belief that she is crazy by asking to see the surviving child – she’s good. I’d give this !@#$% an OSCAR and a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.
Before we all crusify her can we just stop and think for a minute! She is only 22 years old with 4 children. The eldest is 6 and the youngest was 1 year old. She has been having children from about 16 years of age. There is postpartum blues that make females do crazy and strange things including killing themselves. Factor in her socioeconomic condition: she is a victim of the poor choices she made in her life and a victim of a society/country that does not meet the needs of its citizens. She needs to be pittied not punished. No mother in there right senses would have done this she must have had a serious mental breakdown! The government should use this as a benchmark to put the necessary social programs in place to prevent this from ever happening again! Have mercy on her!
Women can be evil, too, so treat her the same as every other accused murderer. Women want and deserve equal treatment under the law — not worse, but also not better.
What the killer wants in terms of seeing the one daughter she failed to slaughter is irrelevant. That child has to be protected physically and emotionally so she can get on with her life with new parents.
@ceo, yes, she first got pregnant at 15 — but must we accept the murder of her babies because perhaps they were inconvenient for her?
As far as I know, the man who got her pregnant at 15 was never prosecuted for carnal knowledge, why not?
The case touches on severe social problems that are endemic in the Jewel, and the biggest problem of all is under-age, unwed pregnancies. That stops the mother from getting educated and learning to support herself and contribute to society, and it almost guarantees the children will be raised in poverty, and have grim futures themselves. The men and boys whpo get the girls pregnant just move on to other girls in most cases, never adequately supporting the babies they create.
And so our people continue to circle the toilet drain.
I blame a failure of churches to be vocal about the moral issues that result in these hopeless pregnancies.
I blame the schools in the same way, along with do-gooder NGOs that never demand discipline, effort, or any other positive habits.
I blame the political leaders, who close their eyes to the decay of the nation, even as they watch it from Belomopan, Miami, or wherever else they wander.
My prayers out to Felicia Chen and everybody who keeps judging her should pray for her instead.. i feel sorry for her , no mattter what she did I will keep praying for her..she is still a human being
well well… from the beginning this woman should know what she wants in life. not just because she is young we should feel sorry for her… she murdered her children so she need to be treated like a murderer.
WELL… MAYBE SHE WATCHING HOW BECAUSE SHE CANNOT HOLD A GUN TO SHOOT PEOPLE SHE IS NOT PAID BY THE PRIME MINISTER.
MONEY CAN BE FOUND TO PAY GANGSTERS, BUT NEVER TO HELP THE NEEDY.
VOTE !!!!
one of the main reason why Belize cannot move up is because of ignorant people who are narrow minded. educate yourself about post partum depression, learn from this and grow to make Belize better. From the politicians straight down dem just ignorant. IGNORANCE is the key people don’t be ignorant.
You need to be a mother to know what this poor girl was feeling. People who have it all wouldn’t understand: but when a woman or girl decides to have her kids its because she feels loved and hopes for a family. Not knowing that the man will leave her alone and helpless, or abuse her or her kids. I would understand her thinking if she’s here struggling to and suffering why would she leave her kids behind to suffer as well. She must have been really depressed to do something like that and i don’t agree with what she did but it sure was a sign of desperation and feeling at her lowest.
That’s why men should be as responsible as the mother. some feel by giving the petty mantainance that the court approves of 25.00 a week can feed, cloth and educate a child!! yes leave it all to the mothers like if they made the babies alone. They should have locked up the man too…cause he pushed her to her breaking point.