Elderly sisters throat slash in Spring Village murder

They have been identified as 69-year-old Justice of the Peace Christine Lewis, a retired teacher and guidance counsellor of Spring Gardens Primary and her sibling Lola Lewis, 73, who is physically challenged.

A murder probe has been opened by detectives at the Old Harbour CIB to determine the circumstances that lead to the double homicide.

Eighteen murders have now been recorded in the Old Harbour space, which falls under the St Catherine South Police Division.

Alarm was raised by a friend of the now deceased sisters who were unusually out of reach and absent for their early morning exercise walk. The elderly friend stumbled upon the bodies after discoverig the main door of the house was not locked.

Their throats were slashed.

The police were summoned and the area cordoned off for scene of crime detectives to scour the property in search of any evidence that may lead them to a breakthrough.

Outside the cordon of the police's yellow tape residents were in shock, while some including those Lewis would have taught at school, openly wept.

"Weh dem woman yah could a do so fi people kill dem?" one woman bellowed from her gut as she cried uncontrollably. "Mankind can so wicked man?" she questioned while other shelled shocked faces look on in disbelief.

As natives of the village, the sisters come from a family of foundational members of this centuries-old community, are well respected and love.

The discovery of their partially decomposing bodies has triggered a nauseating feeling throughout the neighborhood, one that will surely last for a long time.

Investigators are unable to definitively ascertain the time the murderous act was executed. But based on preliminary checks it is surmised that the gruesome act took place on the weekend.

Speaking to Old Harbour News, DSP Mark Harris, commander in charge of the Old Harbour Police sub-division said: "Based on what we saw, the house was ransacked and we are theorizing that robbery was the motive.

"I think it (the murder) happened Saturday night into Sunday morning. The last person saw them Saturday."

DSP Harris, who along with chief commander of St Catherine South SSP Christopher Phillips visited the scene, added that the police also believe more than one person was involved in the killing based on evidence seen.

The police informed Old Harbour News that Lola was found lying on her back in a bedroom at the back in a pool of blood with a towel around her neck, while Christine's body was found in the front bedroom lying on her left side also in a pool of blood. Blood spots were observed at the entrance of the door to the front bedroom. 

Former colleague Rohan Thomas said the guidance counsellor "motivate and inspire so many" and it was sad to see her depart in such manner.

Principal of Spring Garden Primary Shernet Bedward said she knew Lewis since 1997 and described her death as undeserving.

"It came as a shocker to us because we were wondering what could have killed both of them at the same time for [it] never dawn on us that it would have been murder.

“Knowing the person Miss Lewis is she doesn't trouble anyone. She's outspoken and she's not afraid to talk what is on her mind, but that is as far as it goes. She's a very caring person and she looks out for the interest of not only the teachers but also students," said Bedward.

Since she took early retirement more than a 15 years ago, Lewis has kept herself busy raising her grandchildren, caring for her beloved sister, serving the justice system while extending care to other children as well as provide counsel to many adults in the community.

The Shiloh Baptist Church, based in the community and of which the sisters have been long-serving members, is also grieving.

Special prayers are being offered for the church community and the Lewis family with Reverend Norva Rodney among those visiting the scene.