Grieving mom faces accused son's killer in court - Jamaica Observer

Source: Jamaica Observer

PORT MARIA, St Mary -- Tears streamed down Phillipa Walker's face, haggard from lack of sleep, as she tried to compose herself outside the Port Maria courthouse on Thursday.

Inside the court she had struggled to remain in the same room as the man accused of murdering her three-year-old son, Asher Campbell, in an attack that left her, her teenage daughter, and three others injured.

Thirty-three-year-old labourer Devon Williams is before the courts to answer to one count of murder, three counts of wounding with intent, and two counts of unlawful wounding.

Walker, who barely kept her emotions in check inside the courtroom on Thursday, later told the Jamaica Observer that it had been eerie to be in the same room with Williams "Mi couldn't tek fi look pon this strong man a look like him innocent and a sey him mad.

"Mi skin just crawl and cold bump tek mi," the grieving mother said as she finally let the tears flow for her deceased son.

Now left with only beautiful memories of her child, she recalled how helpful and caring her son had been, and his dreams that will never become reality.

"Mi baby would say to mi, 'Mommy when mi get big a solider mi a tun,' " her voice cracking as she struggled to get the words out.

Friday, June 21 would have been Asher's fourth birthday.

"He asked me if he could have a birthday party and mi tell him, 'Mek wi see,' " said Walker.

Those plans are now dashed and she has turned her attention to planning her child's funeral.

"When I went to Spanish Town fi mi baby's body today and saw the condition of mi baby, the whole heap of holes over his body, I couldn't take it. The man is evil," Walker lamented through her tears.

She is taking solace in her belief in God.

Recounting the horrific day, the distraught mother said maybe her child would be alive today if her cries for help were answered by other residents.

"All when mi 15-year-old daughter run and a bawl fi help, no one came to mi rescue," she lamented, adding that she wasn't able to fend off her attacker who is twice her size.

"All when the man start lick and stab and mi a beg him to stop, leave mi baby and kill mi, in his face was emotionless. He just kept hitting and stabbing mi baby," said Walker who had tried to use her body to shield her son.

Reports from the Port Maria police are that between 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm on May 29 Williams, armed with a knife and an iron pipe, inflicted several wounds to little Asher and five other individuals. They were taken to the hospital where Asher was pronounced dead while the others were treated and released. Residents held Williams, who is believed to be mentally ill, and took him to the hospital. He was later handed over to the police.

Williams was charged the same day, after being pointed out in an identification parade.

In an interview with the Observer, his father Phillip Reddix said Williams returned to Jamaica recently from the United States where his mother lives. He said his son was fine until he was stabbed in the US.

"It look like from there things don't go right with him," he said.

Reddix said while his son was on medication after the incident he showed no signs of mental disorder.

He said when Williams arrived in Jamaica his mother called to say their son had forgotten his medication and she would be sending them to him. Up to the time of the attack that left little Asher dead the medication had not arrived.