The extended family of a 71-year-old father charged with aggravated assault in the death of his 13-year-old daughter has rallied in support of both victim and accused.
They spoke of Moussa Sidime’s commitment to family as they poured out their love for his dead daughter Noutene.
Standing beside a makeshift shrine of flowers and notes from family and friends next to the family’s Longueuil, Que., apartment, family spokesperson Mamoudou Kaba read from a statement.
In it, some 13 family members expressed their love for the “beautiful and intelligent” Noutene, who died on Saturday, three days after she was struck and fell into a coma.
Her father called 911 on Wednesday, saying he had “slapped” his daughter during an argument at their apartment.
Some of the girl’s neighbours told reporters that there was conflict in the family because Noutene didn’t always want to pray with her family, who are Muslim. But several close friends yesterday disputed those statements.
The family, with roots in Guinea, was “devastated” by the loss of the “beloved” teenager, they said.
She was “beautiful, intelligent and a brilliant student, much like her father.” Two years ago, she won a math prize and was making plans to follow her sisters academically, hoping to become a lawyer.
The accused, Moussa Sidime, was described as the family cornerstone, an architect with degrees from Columbia University in New York and Universite Laval in Quebec City. Mr. Sidime appeared in a Longueuil courtroom briefly yesterday, where his bail hearing was postponed until Friday. His lawyer, Marie-Josee Duhaime, said, “He is overcome by the situation, he is very sad.”
Crown prosecutor Julie Laborde said she is awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the girl’s cause of death and whether a more serious charge should be laid.
If her death is related more directly to any blows received, a charge of manslaughter or second-degree murder is considered a possibility.
Among the family and friends who attended the hearing were at least two of Mr. Sidime’s sons. Several of the women wore traditional garb. Some held their heads in sorrow, or hugged each other.