There is so much speculation and conjecture surrounding the murder case of Melissa Silvera that one fears it might pervert the course of justice.

Why did Joylan Silvera plead to manslaughter and not admit murder? That is yet to be determined, and justice must be allowed to take its course. Social media should never determine the outcome.

There is a saying, “Empty barrels make the most noise”, that people need to know and understand. For the last two and a half years, the name and lives of Melissa Silvera’s three children, minors at that, have been completely ruined by loss, lies and sensational speculation. 

Justice, most simply put, means to make right. A chance that has been taken away from these children by loud and careless voices constantly postulate across the near-unlimited and far-reaching platform called social media. When people, especially “influencers”, use social media platforms to publicly voice their opinions, mostly formed on hearsay and spewed as ‘facts’ and ‘gospel’, to what ostensibly becomes millions of viewers, do they consider the many ways it can interfere with the course of justice? Where does one hope to find an unbiased jury in this day and age of ubiquitous social media?

We have already seen how social media has broken the back of traditional media and investigative reporting. Everyone has an opinion and is in a rush to voice it. Salacious details about Melissa Silvera without a scintilla of evidence.

Just think of the impact on her traumatised children.

True justice mandates a fair trial, and, ironically, the ones most loudly calling for justice are the very same ones responsible for perverting the very chance of it 

To truly gain justice for Melissa requires that, beyond any reasonable doubt, the real culprit be held accountable. 

If you knew Melissa, you would know that she loved nothing more in this life than her three children. A fact that anyone who knew her cannot dispute. 

Running a campaign is one thing; putting it in the first person of the deceased is beyond perverse and is outright disgusting. Running a campaign that destroys the very name her children carry is a most cruel burden to add to their already unimaginable trauma and demonstrates a lack of genuine care and consideration for the true victims of this heinous crime, her children.

It is, therefore, a great disservice and dishonour to Melissa’s memory to support and participate in a campaign that has, at its very core, caused damage and distress to her three children.

People! Words are powerful. Use them with care.