Four men are now in custody in relation to a brutal chopping incident on Christmas morning in Belle Vue, Vieux Fort. As a result of the incident 38-year-old Oswald Downes of Pierrot, Vieux Fort died, becoming the island’s 28th homicide. Several accounts from various persons indicate that Downes was set upon shortly after 5 a.m.by the men who were wielding sharp objects. The incident occurred during the annual Christmas J’ouvert in the community. According to police reports, Downes was allegedly chopped and stabbed multiple times by four known individuals. The former employee of the Bordelais Correctional Facility was transported to the St Jude Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Oswald Downes.
