The 13th murder victim for the year is 40 year old Marie Lawrence, a market vender of Tempe, St George's,
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Marie Lawrence |
Lawrence, a mother of five, was chopped to death on Monday by her lover, 36 year old Davidson "Hands" Paul who made his first court appearance at the No. 1 Magistrate's Court on Wednesday to answer a charge of murder.
The deceased is yet another victim of a love affair that went sour.
Lawrence succumbed to death at approximately 1:30 p.m. from a series of severe chop wounds dished out on her body including the head and neck by "Hands" who was born with only one hand.
An eyewitness to the gruesome act, was one of the daughters of the deceased, Esther Lawrence who said that her step-father came home after having a few drinks in a rum shop in the village.
She said that two couple started arguing but she did not know what was the problem.
Speculation is rife that "Hands" was upset with his common law wife who had left home for the weekend.
The daughter said that during the argument, her mother asked "Hands" to leave her house since she did not want him there anymore.
According to Esther, the murder accused started to remove his belongings from the house and on one of the trips came back with a cutlass.
The deceased reportedly went into one of the rooms in the house and "Hands" was seen following her and then pushing her onto the bed.
The mother is said to have left the room, enter the verandah and sat on a chair before her lover started to attack her with the cutlass.
The deceased tried to flee the house but was chased by "Hands" who continued to deliver chops to her body.
She collapsed a few inches away from the steps leading to the house.
The decease received a number of severe chops to the neck, face, and hands. Her left wrist was completely chopped off.
"Hands" and his common law wife were ardent supporter of the New National Party (NNP) in the just-ended general elections and were part of the campaign of NNP Candidate for St George North East, Senator Kennedy Roberts.
The NNP official was one of the first persons contacted by "Hands" after the chopping incident.
Sen. Roberts told reporters assembled outside the crime scene that "Hands" called him on the telephone and told him that he had just killed his common law wife.
He said he didn't believe him at first and asked him to stop that nonsense but soon realised that the crime had indeed been committed.
The daughter described her mother as a very nice and loving person and that she will be greatly missed.
She added that the deceased provides for her children and was someone they can all go to with their problems and they do not know how they will make it in life without her.
Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Glynnis Roberts issued a statement Monday on the incident in which she urged citizens to find better ways to deal with domestic problems and refrain from engaging in violent acts.
