EMOTIONS ran high yesterday at the funeral service for six-year-old Josiah Israel Governor when his mother, Brenda Governor, lunged at her mother-in-law, Laurel Andrews, during the viewing of the body.

"Snap she, all yuh snap she," shouted three of the mourners as Governor was hurried out of the chapel by a man who was seen telling her to calm down as she wept and ran across the Eastern Main Road.

The funeral was held in the chapel of Simpson's Funeral Home, Eastern Main Road, Laventille, from around 10.15 a.m. yesterday during which Spiritual Baptist leader, Darrell Goodridge, urged mourners not to go with "hate and hate and hate because we all just recited the Our Father prayer and if we say that, we have to forgive....".

Last week Friday, Josiah was taken to the Besson Street Police Station in an unconscious state by his mother and another relative. The child was then taken by the police to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

He had several marks of violence about his body as well as some old wounds. An autopsy done this week confirmed that he died from multiple blunt-force trauma.

Josiah's step-father, Ronnie John, appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Ceasar in the Port of Spain Magistrates' court charged with murder on Wednesday.

Laurel Andrews, Josiah's grandmother, said earlier this week that two years ago when Josiah went to live with his mother, Brenda Governor, at Herman Scott Street, Laventille, he began complaining about being beaten and told her he wanted to live with her in Guayaguayare in South Trinidad.

Andrews, 46, said her grandson grew up with her in the seaside village from a toddler until he was four years old.

The small chapel at Simpson's was packed as Baptist leader Goodridge reminded mourners to "leave it in God's hands".

During the funeral service however, Josiah's mother, Brenda, who was dressed in a white hooded sweater, attempted to avoid the many media cameras there by walking to the front of the chapel and entering the ladies room, where she remained until the funeral ceremony was over.

After the funeral, however, she walked back out.

She was crying as she joined several other mourners during the viewing of the body.

Andrews, however, remained sitting and looked on at the small white casket. She was seen being comforted by three relatives.

No-one could say what words were exchanged between Laurel Andrews and Brenda Governor but there seemed to be an incident as Governor lunged towards Andrews, but was quickly held back. There was no physical contact between the two.

Andrews appeared surprised, however, and did not say anything.

Governor was hurried out as she told photographers, "Don't take my picture." Josiah was later laid to rest at the Tunapuna cemetery.