Second Park Hill burnt murder victim laid to rest

“They killed my bro, and they burned him like a dog.”

These were the tearful words of Kurtel Johnny on Sunday May 5, 2024, as he bade a final farewell to his elder brother, Brenton Marvin Barker.

Barker was killed and burnt and his body was found at the back of his home in Park Hill on April 8, 2024.

The charred remains of another villager, Kelvert ‘Vert’ Smart was also found on the scene on that day. Both bodies had been bound together.

Smart was buried on Saturday April 20, 2024, while Barker was laid to rest on Sunday May 5.

Barker’s funeral service took place at the Ebenezer SDA Church at Belle Vue. Because of the state of the bodies, both victims were buried in sealed coffins.

At barker’s funeral service on Sunday, his younger brother, Kurtel cried bitterly over not being able to see his brother’s face.

Kurtel who lives overseas, returned home for the funeral.

Paying tribute to his brother on Sunday, Kurtel cried “now I can’t even get to see his face for the last time”.

With sadness painted all over his face, Kurtel recalled the fateful day when he received news that his brother had been killed.

He said he was feeding his four month old child, when he heard his wife cry out, upon checking with his wife, she told him the news she had just heard.

Not wanting to believe this, Kurtel said he made several calls to relatives in St Vincent, and was shocked when he got confirmation of the terrible news.

Remembering his brother, Kurtel said every time he and Marvin had a conversation, Marvin spoke about farming and also about his two children.

Kurtel said the murder of his brother has left his family in pain.

Sunday’s funeral service was punctuated by screams, crying, and sounds of anguish and grief, as family friends and loved ones paid their final respects to Brenton Marvin Barker.