Double tragedy as man stabbed to death at funeral

What started as a funeral for a four-year-old girl ended in further tragedy for a St Mary family on Sunday, resulting in one man being stabbed to death and a another on the run.

Dead is 60-year-old Marvin Watson, also called 'Briggy', of Huddersfield. Relatives say the suspect is his nephew, who is said to be in his 30s. However, when contacted, the police's Corporate Communications Unit did not confirm this. According to the unit, the incident took place about 4 p.m. There was a dispute, a knife was brought into play and Watson was stabbed.

The funeral was for little Akaylia McLean, the suspect's daughter, who died on December 13 from heart complications. Akaylia was known to have heart problems, but was living a near normal life until she collapsed on her way from school one afternoon.

But what should have been a beautiful send-off for her turned into a nightmare. No one with whom THE STAR spoke disclosed what caused the fracas. But according to them, the suspect, who has allegedly had several run-ins with the law, allegedly attacked several persons before eventually stabbing Watson. It is unclear if anyone else was injured in the incident.

"The whole family ah wi traumatise, we a try fi hol' it but ... wi a try wi best," said Kayon, Watson's niece and the suspect's sister. "Wi nuh know how wi a go manage, I don't know. Step outa one an step into another. I really can't tell yuh wha a go happen caa it nuh pretty," Kayon said. She is not sure what really transpired as she wasn't there at the time. But she said that Watson, who was a construction worker, was a nice and friendly person.

The death is weighing heavily on another relative Kerry-Ann. It was in her arms that little Akaylia died as she was taking her to the hospital last December, and it was in her arms that her uncle died as she travelled with him to the Port Maria Hospital on Sunday.

"Right now my head a kill mi," said Kerry-Ann. "It hot because mi lose mi niece inna mi hand and come lose mi uncle inna mi hand; it traumatise mi bad."

She said that on the way to the hospital, Watson was saddened that he would not be able to carry Akaylia's coffin.

"Him ah say him naw go mek it, him naw go get fi carry the baby," she explained. There was a mixture of grief and anger aimed at the suspect.

"Any weh yuh deh, yuh wicked 'cause a yuh mada yuh a go kill; ah yuh mada yuh a hurt. A [she] alone lef inna dis, yuh should neva do that!" Kerry-Ann stated.

"Ah jungle justice mi say," one of Watson's brothers stated openly.