THE father of three-year-old Omarie Richins, who died after choking on vomit, urged the public to show compassion and restraint and not to judge him, the child’s mother and their fami­ly in the wake of their child’s death.

Anderson Richins, 58, a father of six, said he and Omarie’s mother were not negligent parents to their toddler, and were grieving for him.

“We are hurting, but we have to try our best. What happened to him could have happened to any person, any child. I do not like how people are painting a picture that it is my fault or her fault. We are not negligent parents.