[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e tend to describe genuine accidents, random killings and all varieties of collateral damage in the same fashion. We say victims just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time—as if indeed there were areas left in Saint Lucia still considered safe. Between this and last week the island recorded four homicides. They were hot topics for a day but we have since simply moved on, completely desensitized to loss of life and fully accustomed to the neutering statement “under police investigation” and its habit of placing a full stop where a question mark would be more fitting.
Barry Leonce was one of two slain last week Monday, August 20. The police reported that the 31-year-old was shot in Agard Lands, Morne Du Don, Castries and later died at Victoria Hospital. Cause of death was “hemoperitoneum secondary to gunshot to the right pelvis with injury to the right iliac crest, femoral vein and rectum”. As usual, the police reaction was predictable: “We are investigating.”
Meanwhile, there have been no related arrests. Members of the dead man’s family, obviously still in shock and angry, told the STAR that on the day Leonce was fatally shot he had taken a relative’s vehicle to a neighbouring mechanic in Morne Du Don, who was also a relative. He was still at the mechanic’s when masked men showed up and opened fire all over the shop. Leonce’s family says they believe the men were after someone else who escaped unhurt. A cousin of Leonce said: “He has been staying out of trouble, not liming on blocks. He has just been very calm and quiet, just staying to himself.” Then he added, “Barry was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
As for the Morne Du Don shootout, 24-year-old Miguel Charlery of Balata, Castries was also killed. He left behind a one-year-old son. A related post-mortem revealed Charlery’s death was the result of “hemothoraces secondary to gunshot wound to the right chest, with injury to the right auricle and lung”. Obviously he, too, was not in the right place during the shootout that took his life. An online sympathizer wrote “RIP Migz. Being at the wrong place at the wrong time ain’t easy at all. Your death has touched many. You were a very kind-hearted individual. It’s painful to see you disappear . . .”
Other homicides within the past two weeks: on August 19, 47-year-old Stephen Francis was fatally shot in Wilton’s Yard, Castries. The only other information provided was that “hemoperitoneum secondary to gunshot wound to right pelvis with lacerations to the right iliac artery” was responsible for Francis’ sudden demise.
On Tuesday, August 28, 18-year-old Glendon Barthelmey was fatally stabbed near his home in Bagatelle, Castries. Reportedly, his killer travelled from his residence in Soufriere to Bagatelle. Evidently not even Barthelmy’s home was the right place to be that day. His mother told a news reporter her son’s killer had offered a tearful apology that she found hard to accept since it would not give her back her son. According to the police, the culprit was immediately taken into custody. He was later taken to court where he was charged with murder. He has been remanded in custody until Monday September 3.
