By CECILY ASSON Friday, October 5 2012

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OUR MOTHER'S GONE: Britney Sewlal, 12, and her brother Brian, nine, are both supported by female relatives as they stand near the casket of the childr...

WITH HER killer still at large, the funeral service yesterday for Shanti Sewlal, 31, was held at her Esmeralda Branch Road, Williamsville, home — where she was stabbed to death on Monday — under the watchful eyes of heavily armed police.

The 37-year-old suspect could be anywhere and police were not taking any chances especially as Sewlal’s two children — who witnessed her murder — attended the service where they gave their mother a tearful farewell.

At 7 pm on Monday, Sewlal was stabbed to death in front of her daughter Britney,12, and son Brian, nine, shortly after she took her evening bath. A man with whom she had ended a 13-year relationship and against whom she recently took out a restraining order, is the prime suspect in her murder, police said.

At the service, brother and sister were inconsolable as Britney wept over the casket bearing their mother’s remains.

Britney had a dazed look in her eyes while her brother looked close to collapsing from sheer grief.

Sewlal’s father Roy Sookram, 60, and mother Rowtie, 59, the latter being a stroke victim and other close relatives just stared at the casket. Scores of villagers also attended the funeral to pay their final respects.

Pastor Sheldon Soobir of the Springs of Living Water Ministries in Mayo called on women in the congregation to turn over their lives to Jesus, saying too many of them, “are affected by pain and grief.”

“Our women feel rejected, some of them have forgotten how to cry because of years of abuse and hurt. There are women in our midst who need to hear the words, ‘I love you’,” he said.

“But you don’t have to go through the pain, trials, heartaches, persecution and rejection. I want to let you know that Jesus Christ can heal your broken heart and your broken home. Whatever you are going through in your life in your marriage, we serve a God that is able and He can touch you this afternoon.”

Eulogist Shirley Mohan described Sewlal’s life “as a blank canvas just waiting to be painted. She had so much potential and plans for the future,” Mohan said. “Shanti and her children were best friends and shared everything. They had a strong bond between them.”

Sewlal was later laid to rest at the Whiteland Public Cemetery. The manhunt continued yesterday, even as the funeral service was being held, for the suspect as officers admitted that all leads so far have turned up empty-handed.