[UPDATED] Tears, cheers as man stands for his funeral

A festive atmosphere filled the parking lot of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Port of Spain on Monday afternoon, when the body of murder victim Jevon Clairmont was propped up and put on display before his final journey to the Tunapuna Public Cemetery.

Clairmont, 26, was shot dead at his John Trace, Valencia home on March 12.

His body was in a glass case, which was covered during his funeral. After the ceremony, funeral home workers removed the covering, revealing Clairmont's body, which was adorned with a gold crown, black gloves and sunglasses.

The body was prepared by Dennie's Funeral Home,which was also responsible for propping murder victim Che Lewis on a chair outside a Belmont church last November.

Mourners crowded the entrance to the cathedral to see the body. Several people, including Clairmont's mother, Takeisha Clairmont, could be heard sobbing loudly when his body was uncovered.

Dancehall music was played from speakers and several mourners composed themselves and sang along with the lyrics as the body was strapped into the back of a hearse and driven across Independence Square. Clairmont's karate awards and martial arts weapons were on display at the back of the hearse.

Onlookers from businesses nearby gathered on the pavements to watch as the procession left the churchyard.

The spectacle met with mixed reactions from the public, as some onlookers were fascinated by the care to Clairmont's body, while others were repulsed, with one woman referring to the display as "ungodly."

In his homily the Rev Clifford Mainooh said while Clairmont's relatives would be pained by his death, he encouraged them to celebrate his life instead of mourning it.

Citing Clairmont's achievements as a pan player and karate practitioner, Mainooh said Clairmont lived life to the fullest and did his best to contribute to his family and community.

"A man such as this is not to mourn over. I don't know him personally, but from what our sister said about his skill in music, karate, sports and many other things, this is a man who we should celebrate, not mourn over.

"We should mourn for people who take their lives for granted. When you ask for their certificate, they have no certificate other than their birth and death certificates. Our brother is not such a man."

Mainooh urged mourners to value the time Clairmont spent with his relatives and reflect on how he affected their lives, while using his passing to reflect on their own mortality.

In her eulogy, Clairmont's cousin Jeanille Brown said though his friends and relatives were grieving, she urged them to remember his four children and support them after the funeral.

"Now is not the time for us to give up. He left four (children) behind. Let us play a part and take care of them.

"I love you all, and I ask that you all support the children."

The recent trend of displaying bodies in lifelike positions has caused a stir, with some people condemning it as flashy or obscene while others commend funeral homes for their creativity.

This story was originally has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A festive atmosphere filled the parking lot of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Port of Spain on Monday afternoon, when the body of murder victim Jevon Clairmont was propped up and put on display before his final journey to the Tunapuna Public Cemetery.

Clairmont, 26, was shot dead at his home at John Trace, Valencia
on March 12.

His body was in a glass case, which was covered during his funeral.

After the ceremony, funeral home workers removed the covering, revealing Clairmont's body, which was adorned with a gold crown, black gloves and sunglasses.

Mourners crowded the entrance to the cathedral to see the body. Several people, including Clairmont's mother, Takeisha Clairmont, could be heard sobbing loudly when his body was uncovered.

Dancehall music was played from speakers and several mourners composed themselves and sang along with the lyrics as the body was strapped into the back of a hearse and driven across Independence Square.

Onlookers from businesses nearby gathered on the pavements to watch as the procession left the churchyard.