A man who claims he is being wrongfully accused of murdering his girlfriend Shannon Whyte just over a year ago has broken his silence for the first time publicly saying he too wants justice and forgiveness from her family.
In an interview on Thursday, near his Port of Spain workplace, Kerry Babb said his life was upended after he found 29-year-old Whyte unresponsive, submerged in a barrel of water and a bullet wound to the head at his Mon Repos, Morvant home.
When her body was removed from the barrel, she was holding a Glock pistol with 20 rounds of .40 ammunition in her right hand. Her right elbow was bent and her thumb on the trigger, a police report said.
From preliminary findings, police suspect Whyte died by suicide. An autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre revealed Whyte died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Her family believes she was murdered. Whyte was a former Newsday employee who worked in the advertising department.
On July 1, 2021, just around 10 pm, Babb was taken into police custody for questioning in connection with the death of his childhood crush. He was later released without charge.
Babb told Sunday Newsday he is eager for the police to conclude their investigation and hopes it would clear his name and help him get his life back. He declined to be photographed or disclose his employer.
“Just as everyone else, I want justice for Shannon. I want justice in the form of truth. I want people to know and understand I would never hurt her.”
Babb told Newsday he wishes her family would give him a chance to sit with them and tell the story.
“I would tell them from the beginning, up to the last time I saw her. My side of the story; not what someone repeats and whatever they want to think or do after is fine by me.”
But when contacted for a response on Friday, Whyte’s mother Veronica Whyte shot down his attempt to make amends. For her, Babb missed his chance to prove his innocence.
Babb said Whyte’s family and friends share different beliefs as some are convinced he is guilty and others believe he is innocent.
“They believe I did it. The threats I get is like they know I did it or I pushed her to it, or I’m responsible in some way.
“This whole thing is terrifying. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. I keep asking myself ‘How would I do something like this?’ After so many years with her and I have so much to lose. It seem like there is no such thing as ‘innocent until proven guilty’ for me.
“I got death threats right through, I was under police protection for months. People started to deal with me different. Now I don’t go anywhere, I can’t live comfortably because until my name is cleared I’ll be targeted...But even if my name is cleared people already labelled me as responsible so I’m not sure if my life would be normal again.”
Babb lamented Whyte has been good to him and had always supported him.
[caption id="attachment_966116" align="alignnone" width="528"] Shannon Whyte poses in her African wear at Newsday in an undated photo. -[/caption]
“She never car
