GRIEF STRICKEN: Serey Seng with a make-shift shrine at the pool where her three-year-old daughter, Melanie, died yesterday. IAIN McGRGEOR/Waikato Times14 September 2006
By REON SUDDABY
Waikato Times (New Zealand)
Serey Seng broke into tears today as she placed food at a shrine to her three-year-old daughter Melanie, who she found dead in a neighbour's pool yesterday afternoon.
Mrs Seng has not eaten since she found her daughter in the pool shortly after 2pm yesterday. "I don't want to eat because my daughter can't eat too," she said.
Mrs Seng returned to the couple's Vernall St, Hamilton, home with Melanie, after visiting other family members yesterday.
She put groceries in the fridge and returned to find her daughter missing.
"I came inside to put food in the fridge, I came back to the car, and she was gone."
Frantically asking neighbours if they had seen her "little girl", Mrs Seng searched her property, and eventually found Melanie in her neighbour's pool.
"It's very, very sad. Last night all my family were missing her."
As well as the shrine in their lounge, the Seng family were today burning incense and have placed flowers by the pool.
Mrs Seng said she would miss her daughter terribly. "I won't see her grow up."
The family, who came to Hamilton 10 years ago from Cambodia, are yet to make funeral arrangements for Melanie.
The death has been referred to the coroner.
Hamilton Police Senior Sergeant Graham Shields said the pool was fenced and gated, and there was "nothing obvious" to suggest how Melanie got in. The home owners were not there this morning. A decision had not yet been made about charges over the death.
Any owner or person responsible for a pool can be charged with manslaughter if someone drowns and the pool does not comply with the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.
Serey Seng broke into tears today as she placed food at a shrine to her three-year-old daughter Melanie, who she found dead in a neighbour's pool yesterday afternoon.
Mrs Seng has not eaten since she found her daughter in the pool shortly after 2pm yesterday. "I don't want to eat because my daughter can't eat too," she said.
Mrs Seng returned to the couple's Vernall St, Hamilton, home with Melanie, after visiting other family members yesterday.
She put groceries in the fridge and returned to find her daughter missing.
"I came inside to put food in the fridge, I came back to the car, and she was gone."
Frantically asking neighbours if they had seen her "little girl", Mrs Seng searched her property, and eventually found Melanie in her neighbour's pool.
"It's very, very sad. Last night all my family were missing her."
As well as the shrine in their lounge, the Seng family were today burning incense and have placed flowers by the pool.
Mrs Seng said she would miss her daughter terribly. "I won't see her grow up."
The family, who came to Hamilton 10 years ago from Cambodia, are yet to make funeral arrangements for Melanie.
The death has been referred to the coroner.
Hamilton Police Senior Sergeant Graham Shields said the pool was fenced and gated, and there was "nothing obvious" to suggest how Melanie got in. The home owners were not there this morning. A decision had not yet been made about charges over the death.
Any owner or person responsible for a pool can be charged with manslaughter if someone drowns and the pool does not comply with the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.
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