Brother held over shooting coffin of dead child killer

(Jamaica Gleaner) – A brother of the Trelawny father who last month murdered his two children before committing suicide is now facing the possibility of several charges after a bizarre incident at the burial in the Trelawny community of Woodgrove late Sunday afternoon.

The brother, whose name has not been released, reportedly went berserk as Pastor Jeffect Watson was committing the body of Kenville Mullings to the ground and fired several shots in the air before pumping several more into the coffin.

The brother is not known to be a licensed firearm holder.  “I was standing right there,” said Watson. “It was a bit frightening, about four or five shots went into the vault.”

Watson said he was not sure if the brother’s action was out of vengeance or anger but noted that the shooting sent several people scurrying for cover.

Paul Patmore, the independent councillor for the Lorrimers division in Trelawny, was among those who dashed for safety.

“I ran back up to the hearse when I saw him shooting,” said Patmore who is also the operator of Patmore’s Funeral Home, the undertakers for yesterday’s funeral.

Patmore said people who were near the graveside reported that as the brother fired into the coffin, he uttered words to the effect, “You shouldn’t do it, you shouldn’t do it.”

The shooting brought an ugly end to a “beautiful” service which began at a nearby chapel before the procession headed to the family plot in Woodgrove.

But Watson said even throughout the shooting, he stayed put, completed the burial proceedings, signed the death certificate and then left the family plot. He said on leaving the family plot, he saw the police speaking with the man.

Last night, the Wait-A-Bit police confirmed that there was an incident at Mullings’ funeral in Woodgrove, but would not provide details. However, they confirmed Mullings’ brother was taken into custody for reasonable suspicion of committing an offence.