(Trinidad Guardian) Shocked and heartbroken over his murder, the family of 29-year-old Randy Joseph is calling for justice.
“I want justice, something has to be done because my children lost their father. I lost my husband,” lamented his common-law wife Shelly Ann Mungal.
Joseph, also known as Brent, a father of two and construction worker, was stabbed in the chest and shoulder with a knife by a woman while in the gallery of his in-laws’ home at Houssa Trace, Lightbourne Road, Gasparillo on Saturday.
He died minutes after the attack.
Mungal, 25, explained that about three months ago, one of her brothers was assaulted by a young man from the village. She said since then, there had been tension between the man and her family.
She said Joseph argued with the young man on the road not far from their home.
Mungal said they went home and shortly after the young man came into their yard and refused to leave.
“My husband tell him about three times before they scramble to come out the yard. He say no he not coming out the yard,” she said.
She admitted that afterwards, Joseph went to the house where the man was staying and threw missiles at the house. The female suspect also lived in that house.
Shortly after, Mungal said, they saw black smoke at the back of her parents, home where her brother, Adrian lived. The house was gutted.
She claimed the young man also threatened to burn down her house and was holding an aerosol can and lighter.
Mungal said she and Joseph later took their two children ages six and three, to her parents’ home a short distance away. She recalled that she, Joseph, her brother Adrian and other relatives were in the gallery around 7 pm when the female suspect and three men armed with cutlasses and stones walked into the yard.
“When she pass me by the entrance to come in I saw she stick the knife in her back pocket. By the time she cross over the fencing in the gallery. All I could say is Brent, she have a knife.
He could not get up from the couch because she was done already up on him, stabbing him.”
Mungal said Joseph got up, ran through the house and out the back door where he collapsed in the grass bleeding profusely.
“I rest my head on his chest and I heard one heartbeat and that was the last,” she sobbed.
Adrian, who tried to assist Joseph, said he muttered, “Ah gone.”
He said he pleaded with him to hold on.
Mungal said the ambulance took about two hours to arrive.
Adrian recalled that he tried to help his brother-in-law.
“All how I try to brakes for him in the gallery yesterday when this girl stabbing him. I could ah get stab in head, chop in my neck, all kind of thing. When I realise that I just dress back and grab them two lil children,” he said.
Describing Joseph as a hard worker and a nice person, he said, “I just want justice for my place ad my brother-in-law. It hard boy, is a life lost.”
Adrian said everything he owned was destroyed in the fire. Guardian Media was told that one of the suspects—a man—surrendered to the police.
Investigations are continuing.
