Murder of Spring Village sisters spurs citizens into action

In the afternoon sunset today roughly 60 residents, some bearing placards, came together and marched through the district in a show of unity against crime and violence. Joining them in solidarity were head of the St Catherine South Police Division Senior Superintendent (SSP) Christopher Phillips and commander in charge of the Old Harbour police zone DSP Mark Harris.

Their stance comes in the wake of the murder of sisters Christine Lewis and Lola Lewis, both senior citizens, whose bodies were discovered on the morning of November 2. Investigators theorized that they were killed days earlier before they were found, as their bodies had begun to decomposed, while their throats were slashed.

• Suspect linked to murder of elderly sisters in police custody
• Elderly sisters throat slash in Spring Village murder

“The people of this community please, please speak up. Don’t [say] you are not gonna talk because you are afraid of this or you are afraid of that,” said community stalwart and Justice of the Peace Luna Bailey.

Bailey, 86, and native of the community, was among influential figures who addressed the crowd, urging residents to take a firm stance against crime and violence.

“I don’t think it’s somebody from far that comes here. Somebody within the community must know something, please speak up,” added Bailey who herself has been a victim of crime and violence.

Randy Finnikin, convener of the civic group Citizens Action Against Crime (CAAC) and managing director of the Spring Village Development Institute, said a multipronged approach is required to wrest the sliding social and moral decadence plaguing the area.

And with Prime Minister Andrew Holness signaling his intent to move away from austere lockdown measures, Finnikin said the CAAC is poised to kick-start youth empowerment programmes that will address some the social ills. 

The prominent social activist declared: “So listen up over the next couple of weeks when the cadet programmes and music programmes and the after school programmes jumpstart again, because we are going forward. This time around we’re also going forward with something that we’ve not had in Spring Village for many, many years a neighbourhood watch.”

For his part SSP Phillips reassured citizens of the police’s commitment to restore peace and sanctity to an area of approximately 8,000 inhabitants.

“I’m happy that you’re sending this message and I am happy that you are not treating what happened couple weeks ago as a nine day wonder, but that you have already started to organize yourself and to send a very strong message that in the community of Spring Village you’ll not tolerate this barbaric and most vicious act,” SSP Phillips said.

 

 

 

 

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One man remains in custody and is believed to be the prime suspect in relation to the murder of the elderly sisters.