'Marsha, Shawn's murders raise question on justice'

MOURNERS at Saturday's funeral for murder victims Marsha and Shawn Joseph were reminded that life waits on no one. This message was given by Fr Gerard Tang Choon during the funeral of the mother and son at Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe RC Church in Bourg Mulatresse, lower Santa Cruz.

Marsha, 55, and Shawn, 22, of Gasparillo Village, Santa Cruz, were shot dead at the family's business on the corner of Sad­dle Road and San­ta Cruz Old Road, lower Santa Cruz.

Police said at around 4 pm on Tuesday, the two were confronted by a gunman who shot them several times. They were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope where they died while being treated.

Calling for a greater appreciation of life, Choon said, "These sudden tragic deaths should make us look at our lives and how are we living, what are the priorities in our lives?"

Choon said people are distracted by the trappings of life and fail to make time for their families and simple things.

"Many of us rush from one thing to the next and miss out on the important things in life. We say someday I'll go on vacation, someday I'll spend time with family, someday I'll make amends but what if that day doesn't come?" said Choon.

He asked people to reflect on their attitude towards life and added, "This tragedy of Shawn and Marsha's deaths raises serious questions in our hearts and our mind. Questions about justice, questions about life and death."

Delivering a tearful eulogy that cemented Choon's message was daughter and sister of the deceased, Latisha Joseph.

"I really didn't know that I was going to go through this," said Latisha.

She wished she had told her mother and brother how much she loved them, while they were still alive.

"Shawn was trying to improve himself. He always made me feel like the younger one (sibling) because he was so mature for his age. I love my brother," said Latisha.

In the eulogy, relative Carlene Clarke called for parents to love their children more before its too late.

"We have a lot of things to do right now, a lot of young people are straying away. You know why? We don't have love. My advice to everyone is to hold on to our kids, love our kids. Show them that we love them and care for them so when they go outside nobody can contaminate their minds to do wrong things," she said.

Clarke said Shawn and Marsha were examples of people who sought to bring that culture of love to their community.

"Shawn and Marsha brought a lot of love and unity by that corner (near the family business), they brought a lot of people together," said Clarke.

Recalling the evening he was told of his wife and son's death, Lennox Joseph said he was having a conversation with his sister. In that moment, he joked that if Marsha ever said she was leaving, he would offer to leave as the house and everything he built was hers to keep.

When he received the call of her death, Lennox said to this day he only has one question,"...for what?"

Speaking about Shawn, he said, "I love my son, I may not have told him I love him, but I always treated him in a special way. All I wanted for my son was, for him not to work for anybody and to be the biggest black businessman in the West Indies."

Lennox said there has been no progress with the investigation into their deaths and he felt as though he has been failed by the justice system.

A retired police constable, Lennox survived an assassination attempt in April which left him physically and mentally scarred.

At the Forensic Science Centre on Wednesday, Lennox told Newsday that Marsha and Shawn were allegedly murdered because of a dispute over a piece of land. He said the matter led to arguments in and out of court, and he had reported numerous threats against his life to the authorities. He said he is now ready to sell his belongings and leave Trinidad for good.