Hairdressers plan ‘wake’ for slain colleague

At first glance, it may appear as if it was business as usual for the hairdressers and nail technicians on the pavements of Princess Street yesterday, but zoom in a bit closer, and one would instantly realise that the atmosphere was extremely gloomy.

Fresh on the lips of everyone, including the employees of the nearby wholesale, was the brutal stabbing of Charmaine 'Pat' Brown by another hairdresser last Thursday.

"Wi heart heavy and is like we can't stop cry from it happen. It hard, enuh. A years Pat deh here a do her business and everyone, even those persons who nah do dem hair know her. The place feel empty although 'town' full a people. The gal stab her up and kill her over $500 and is her client too, is not even like she did a try tief her customer. The next one work way cross the road and come over here come kill the woman for nothing," a woman said.

According to police reports, about 5 p.m. last Thursday, the deceased was involved in a dispute with another woman during which a knife was brought into play.

Both women were injured in the process and were taken to hospital, where Brown was pronounced dead, while the other female is being treated. Police investigations continue.

Two of Brown's other associates, Simone Myers and Vanessa Morgan, took a break from their posts to collect donations for her 'nine-night' and funeral arrangements.

They, along with others, stated that Brown was from a poor background and her funeral would put her family under a massive financial burden.

Tear-filled eyes

"We really would waan some help. All a we a contribute a ting but we don't know if it a go enough. Mi a wonder how her little children dem a go survive. We nah try do any big big funeral for her but we no want she look like the worse a bury. So anyone who can offer anything towards her funeral, we would appreciate it," Myers said.

With tear-filled eyes, another hairdresser, Shanna Powell, pointed to a scar on right arm. She stated that she was stabbed by Brown's attacker as she tried to stop the deadly fight.

"Mi hope the judge no have no mercy for the killer because she evil. All when she come and a argue with Pat the day, all Pat try walk her out she up in her face. Pat put up her hand and bawl out say the 'Blood of Jesus against you'," she said. "She start stab Pat and all a we deh here a try part it but she a move like she mad and just a stab off a everybody. When Pat run and she meet up with her and stab her again, she say to her say 'Yuh really a go stab me again?' and then she just start 'gap'."

Reflecting on Brown's life, Natalee Sutherland said she was more than just another beautician, but could have easily got a job as a stand-up comedian.

"Pat was our comedy all day long and even when the day slow and people would expect us to be miserable, she would know how to put a smile on our face. She was a jovial person and she never deserve this. Pat was not a fighter but she could beat you with her words but none a we nuh take her seriously cause as she cuss you, she friend you up and you just have to love her. She loved life and was the life of Princess Street," she said.