WHILE the family of murder victim Dorna Noel tried to come to terms with the way her life was stolen, bandits took the opportunity to break into her D’abadie home, Noel’s cousin, Carlton Hope, revealed yesterday.

Hope made the statement as he gave the eulogy at Noel’s funeral at the Allen’s Funeral Home in Arima.

Last Wednesday, Noel, 45, was shot dead at her Curepe workplace by her live-in lover, acting Cpl Sean James, before he then turned his service revolver on himself.

And two days after her death, Noel’s home was broken into by thieves, although it was secured, Hope said. Noel lived at Harper Circular Drive, D’abadie.

The stolen items include a television set, stereo set, laptop computer, DVD player as well as Avon products, Hope disclosed in a follow-up telephone call yesterday.

’We got the keys on Thursday (the day after Noel was killed) from the St Joseph police, and when we went inside the house it was packed with stuff, but when we returned on Friday afternoon everything was taken, the house was emptied,’ a distraught-sounding Hope said.

The break-in, which Hope said he strongly believed was an ’inside job’, was reported to the Arima Police Station.

When contacted yesterday, Arima police said that investigations into the incident were continuing. Hope valued the stolen items at some $25,000.

Pastor Marlon Alvarez, of New Beginning Ministries, while delivering the homily yesterday, also condemned the break-in of Noel’s home, especially at a time of grief for the family.

But despite this situation both Alvarez and Hope called on all in attendance to refrain from casting judgment on anyone in Noel’s death and instead focus on forgiveness.

James, who was given his last rites last Saturday, was not mentioned during yesterday’s funeral.

The fatal shooting that claimed the lives of the two lovers happened at the Curepe office of Dr Wahid Mohammed, where Noel had worked for the past nine months.

When Dr Mohammed offered a tribute to Noel yesterday he described her as ’ a wonderful human being’ who was a great team player.

’We need to forgive her for any shortcomings she may have had, whether she was aware of them or not...goodbye Dorna,’ Mohammed said.