Rewind: Vaz family hopes for justice, yet to come to terms with loss of 8-yr-old

On June 29 last year, contrary to the daily routine, Franshela didn’t come back home from New Horizons Public School in Airoli. Though Sherly would usually pick her up upon her return, she had been bedridden for some time following a surgery for brain tumour. On the fateful day, Franshela got off the bus when Fonseca, a merchant navy engineer, allegedly called out to her and said her mother wasn’t home. According to the police, he told her that her mother was at his Mira Road house and offered to take her there. An unsuspecting child, Franshela readily agreed and got into his car.

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Fonseca then drove his car onto an isolated stretch on Ghodbunder Road where he allegedly wrapped her head with a plastic bag and smothered her. He then returned to the Vaz residence and pretended to look for Franshela along with his family and even stayed overnight there to keep an eye on the investigation, according to the police.

Francisco was in The Netherlands on an official assignment when he received the news that his daughter had gone missing. “The minute I heard the news, I knew that some known person would be involved since my daughter would never readily go with a stranger. I always trained my daughter not to talk to any stranger or take anything from them. I told the police to look into my family members but I had never imagined that it would be my own brother-in-law,” he said.

A Class VI student who lived in the neighbourhood told the police that he had seen Franshela talking to a man in a car and then leaving with him. The police grew suspicious of Fonseca and decided to track his movements. After they started reviewing CCTV footage at all checkpoints and toll plazas, the police spotted Fonseca in the footage at the Airoli toll booth with Franshela in the passenger seat. After interrogation, the police said, Fonseca admitted to having abducted and killed the eight-year-old girl. On July 3, the Rabale police found Franshela’s body at the spot specified by Fonseca.

Describing the last rites as the toughest part of the ordeal, Francisco said, “Her body was found after five days and the police did not let us see her face. We couldn’t even see our daughter one last time before saying good bye.” Months after it all happened, Francisco is still at a loss to understand why Fonseca would take such an extreme step.

“His children would often come to our home to play with my children when there may have been a few petty fights. But there was no reason, which would drive a man to take such an extreme step. We never saw it coming,” he said.

Ever since the incident, days go by in the Vaz household mostly in silence, as Franshela’s parents as well as her three-year-old brother Floyd are still struggling to cope with the loss of the bubbly eight-year-old whose life was snuffed out rather violently. Remembering her as a polite girl, Francisco said, “She absolutely loved crabs and would always thank me when I brought some home. Without her, the house feels so empty and none of us feel like going anywhere.”

“She was a loving and caring girl and was very protective of her brother. No one really talks in the house any more. I work until late evening after which I go home, have my dinner and go to sleep. My wife sleeps through most of the day owing to her medication and my son feels lonely since he no longer has anyone to play with. Without her, the world has disappeared around us,” said Francisco. He added that his son often consoled Sherly telling her that Franshela would return from school soon. Franshela’s brother is currently studying in the same school in kindergarten.

Francisco plans to attend the hearings once the trial begins and hopes for a speedy trial and that Fonseca will receive a harsh sentence. “I just want justice for my daughter and I believe in the legal system. The police have also assured us that they have a strong case. He (Fonseca) should be punished severely for his crimes at the earliest possible. I don’t feel like living here any more. After all this is over, we will probably go back to Goa,” he said. Sherly and Fonseca’s wife Sophia, who were previously very close, have not spoken since his arrest.

“We cannot forgive them for what they did. No matter what happens, we will never get our daughter back,” said Francisco.