Martin claims group threw rum on him and set him on fire

Last Saturday night was supposed to be a funfilled night for Vomo Martin of Mesopotomia.{{more}}

It was the launch of ‘P’tani Mas’, the area’s Carnival, but his fun was shortlived, as just before dawn, he was set afire by a group that attacked him.

The 29-old-father of a three-year-old son is lucky to be alive today after sustaining severe burns to his chest, back, face and head.

When SEARCHLIGHT visited the young man on Wednesday, May 19, at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, he was still writhing in pain.

Recounting the frightful drama, Martin said following the show, he and another male were walking along the Mesopotamia main road when a group of about three persons (one male and two females) confronted them with a knife in the vicinity of the New Haven Funeral Home. He said that he recognized one of the females, as she works at a business in the community.

“One came behind my back and throw the rum and light it,” said Martin.

“I never had anything with these people before,” he said.

Martin stressed that he vividly remembers the point when he was lit afire.

“My head was blazing from behind going down in my back. I had to run and fight to get my shirt off; by the time I get off the shirt, my head was still blazing behind.

“I thought I was going to die because all over me started to feel different,” said Martin.

He said that he ran to the nearby Mesopotamia Police Station to report the incident, but due to severe pain, he left and went to the Levi Latham Health Centre also in Mesopotamia.

Martin told SEARCHLIGHT that after the incident, the group continued walking down the street.

“I feel real bad, because nothing never happened to me like this,” said Martin, noting that doctors told him that his injuries could have claimed his life.

He said that he is hoping to get justice because he did nothing to anyone.

Juscella Thomas, mother of the burn victim, lamented on Tuesday afternoon that it pains her heart to see that her son cannot sleep or eat properly.

“They just light him as an animal and they don’t even light animal like that,” Thomas opined.

Martin’s father, Cleve Primus, told SEARCHLIGHT that the attack on his son is a criminal act. But while Primus is peeved about the incident, he also took offence with the way the matter is being handled by the Mesopotamia Police Station.

“Up to this time, the Mesopotamia police, they have not made any attempt, no movement or anything like that. I don’t even think they make an attempt to find out who the person and dem be. I don’t understand, because that happened since Sunday morning and today is Wednesday and no arrest has been made as yet,” said Primus.

Martin’s sisters, Nolly John and Shane Primus, however, told SEARCHLIGHT when they visited the Mesopotamia Police Station on Tuesday, they were told that the matter will be dealt with the following day.

When contacted on the matter yesterday, ASP Jonathan Nichols, Head of the Police Public Relations and Complaints Department, said he was informed by the Mesopotamia Police Station that efforts are being made to apprehend the accused.