Farmer killed in fuss over card game

A game of cards has left a Portland family in turmoil after a loved one lost his life, allegedly over $150, on April 19.

The victim is 34-year-old Julian Minott, a farmer of Mahoe district. Beverly Sullivan, his mother, said she has had sleepless nights and can't even eat since the horrific incident.

"We live in the same yard and any little thing he would say, 'Mama'. I can't tell you that I eat a good plate of food. The food can't pass my throat. Mi miss my son, and I really feel it that him just gone like that," Sullivan said.

According to police reports, about 6:45 p.m. Minott and a group of men were gambling when a verbal dispute erupted. Two of the men later brandished knives and stabbed Minott several times before fleeing the scene. The police were alerted and Minott was rushed to the Annotto Bay Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two men were taken into police custody in relation to the incident.

"I heard they were playing cards, and I don't understand about gambling, but I heard that there was about a $150 and he took up his money and said he is finished and den di boy dem say dem want dem money. We and the boys' family are close and he knows their parents, and so on. When the argument start, mi hear say him tell them that he don't want to do them anything because him and them parents move so good," Sullivan said. She said that as she got word of the happenings, she rushed to the hospital, but while on her way she got the devastating call that he had succumbed to his injuries.

"It was the worst call ever, but I tried my best to keep strong because his babymother was there crying. So I had to keep courage for her," said Sullivan.

The grieving mother described her late son as a jovial, hard worker who was never one to hold grudges. She admitted that he had a loud mouth, but insisted that his bark was a lot louder than his bite.

"The Friday morning he went and root up yam head to plant the Saturday morning. He had five farms in different places and him plant every little thing. He would loud up his mouth, but he didn't mean anything. But he would never keep malice with anyone. He was very helpful," Sullivan said.