Email

Print

Lisa Sutherland, Common-Law-Wife
"Justin died in my arms, I watch Justin take his last breathe in the vehicle."

Monica Bodden, Reporting
Lisa Sutherland is the common-law-wife of Justin Jones.

The couple was in Ontario Village last night - - along with their 14 month old child - attending a wake for Lisa's grandmother.

The low-key gathering was held in this yard.

But an already sad event turned tragic when Jones - who was getting ready to leave the wake with his family to head back to Belize City - was attacked and fatally stabbed in the back of his head.

His mother in law Joan Sutherland was there and saw what happened.

Joan Sutherland, Mother-in-Law
"While I was at the wake I only hear my daughter say 'watch how Jack is going on stupid' and I just see my son-in-law Justin Jones on top of him. I ran and when I ran and grab Justin I see Justin vomit blood, his mouth was full of blood, it was like a fountain of blood, I never see so much blood come out of anybody yet. I hold him and try to put him in a vehicle and take him to the hospital, when he reach there he was already dead."

Lisa Sutherland, Common-Law-Wife
"I talk to him in the vehicle to try to keep him awake. I told him to be strong for the baby - my baby is so attached to him - two of us have to lie on the bed for him to fall asleep. Last night my baby fuss until 5 o' clock this morning."

Jack Santos - a resident of the community - is the accused killer. He has been picked up by police.

Even though the motive of last night's murder is still uncertain - many believe it might have been a result of old beef.

Surprisingly - the stabbing was not preceded by an altercation.

According to those who were at the wake, Santos simply walked up to Jones and stabbed him once behind the neck.

Monica Bodden
"Was there an altercation leading up to this incident?"

Joan Sutherland, Mother-in-Law
"Nothing, not even one exchange of words."

Monica Bodden
"You saw anything? Any altercation? The guy just walk up to Justin."

Lisa Sutherland, Common-Law-Wife
"Nothing, Justin not even spoke to the guy, when the guy walk up to Justin he didn't run or anything. I never think that he would have do Justin anything. He just walks up to Justin and stabs him."

For the mother of Justin Jones - this is the second son she has lost to violence. In 2009, her oldest son, Denbert Jones was stabbed to death outside the then Club Enterprise on Ceasar Ridge Road. Today she says the pain of losing another child is no less.

Gladys Young - Mother
"They kill my son Denbert last two years ago, the same way that they did with my next son. One thing I want to ask these young people out there that they should remember that they have family and while they keep on doing this to mothers because our hearts cry and right now they took another part of me because I have 10 children, two of them went down like this. It's really hard because you do not get over this kind of pain that you carry with you. No mothers get over these pain because you carry the baby in your body 9 months and just as the way they put that knife to my son neck, the same way I felt it because I am not crying right now but last night when I heard the news I just bawl out until I couldn't bawl out anymore and I have pain in my heart."

Same for Lisa Sutherland's family - they too know what it feels like to lose a loved one.

In 2006 - her brother Allen Sutherland was fatally stabbed to the neck for his videogame.

4 years later and she is now reliving the nightmare.

Lisa Sutherland - Common-Law-Wife
"It's really hard, I can't even explain how confused I am right now. I watch mama cried many days for my brother and sometimes I cry too but I come to realization that I have to accept he is gone, he was only my brother, Justin is my common law. How can I accept my baby father gone? How? My baby is only 14 months old, what will I explain to him when he grows up. How I will tell him that his father is dead."

Gladys Young - Mother
"The young man that kill my son - may God bless him, so that he know that he has take away somebody's son and he should look into his mother's face and say mother I just take away your son from somebody else because we are all mothers together. The last time they come to interview me for my son I didn't want because I just couldn't take it, I still can't take it right now but I have to say something. STOP THE KILLING!"

And while her mother was being buried - instead of being at her funeral -Joan Sutherland was at the police station with her daughter - dealing with another loss.

Joan Sutherland, Mother-in-Law
"It's like everything has fallen apart, like I fight all I could and right now I feel like there is nowhere to turn to or I feel like I can't go no more, I can't take any more. Four years since I lost my son Allen Sutherland, Justin was not only a son-in-law to me; Justin was like a son to me."

Today her partner in the fight for justice Yolanda Shakron - stood beside her in support - along with Councilor Roger Espejo.

In a tragic coincidence, yesterday made one year since Yolanda Shakron's nephew - Chris Galvez was murdered.

Yolanda Shakron - Belizeans for Justice
"Ironically was one year since Christopher was murdered. It's very devastating to me, Mrs. Joan is close to me and it was a shocker. I just wonder when will this madness stop. Justin was 22 years old, he was a member for Belizeans for Justice, and he was always there for us helping us when we needed him in the organization. He will surely be missed. I just want to ask the young people of this country - let us stop it, let us stop killing each other, we are all one people, we are Belizeans, let us love each other. Christmas is a time of sharing and be happy, it's the birth of our savior and Lord Jesus Christ. I think for me it's very painful, it's like déjà vu. Last year it was my nephew Chris and this year its Justin the same day, the same time."

Gladys Young - Mother
I just couldn't take it because I went in and out the door, through the back door , in the yard and I just bawl. I have to stop bawl because then I have to ask God to continue strengthen me."

Roger Espejo, Belize City Councillor
"I am in strong support of Mrs. Joan Sutherland, Mrs. Joan, Mrs. Shakron, this is not their first lost. The heavy cross that these ladies carry is unbelievable, they carry very heavy crosses, it's very tragic that this happens at a time like this, it's tragic that its happens period especially in a time like this when we are supposed to be celebrating something sacred."

Santos remains detained pending charges.