The shrine to Missionaries of the Poor brothers Suresh Barwa, aged 22, from India, and Marco Candelario Laspura, 31, from the Philippines at the mission's Hanover Street residence. - Photo by Ross Sheil

Going to the police in area 4 at Central Police Station. I was really at peace. Questions were asked of one of our brothers that were frank and direct about the death of Bro Marco and Bro. Suresh, but not surprising, since the police have to do their job. I knew that our brother was innocent and that in this case, the truth would win him out. On the night of the martydom of our two brothers, the brother questioned was washing pots outside the kitchen window with two other brothers by his side. He bent to wash a pot when the gunshot rang out. The 3 brothers ran into the kitchen and saw the 2 slain Brothers in a pool of blood.

On a human level it was a great tragedy to Missionaries of the poor. On the level of spirituality, it was a triumph of the Lord and a gift given form heaven which strengthens our determination to faithfulness. The death of the two martyrs has encouraged us to live out the beatitudes, no matter what the cost.

From The Gleaner and RJR TV News came the report that a brother was being regarded as a suspect for the death of our 2 martyrs, Suresh and Marco. We received calls form our Jamaican Associates, and even friends from St Lucia, Trinidad, and Toronto. I was alarmed that the news had spread like wildfire, and. without any police communicating with us about any such matters. We have been open to any questioning, having nothing to hide, and the police must do their job as long as it is done fairly and with a sense of justice.

One of my own sons

At the beginning, I was concerned because each of the brothers is one of my own sons.

They dedicate themselves entirely to the poor and to each other. Immediately I called Deacon Ronald Thwaites, and he went directly to the Central Police station. Det. Cornelius Walker, who supposedly made the statement to the press did not show up. I tried to get a hold of Mr Walker by telephone, no response was made to my telephone call. there it was in the press, without the police having notified myself or the brother. Nevertheless I was confident that our brother was innocent. I told this to the reporters. Personally, I find their reporting sensational.

Detective Champagne, now in charge of Central Police Station, saw myself, the brother, the criminal lawyer Dennis Daly, and Deacon Ronald Thwaites. Sixty-nine questions were asked of the brother. A thorough job was done, at the end of which, Detective Champagne stated."There is nothing to worry about." As I have said he asked very direct and detailed questions. Our brother answered simply and straightforward, sometimes with tears in his eyes. Detective Champagne clearly made his point. "We must look at everything and be transparent." In the presence of our lawyers and myself, he repeated finally, "There is nothing to worry about."

I was shocked to hear one week after the story was supposedly told by Det. Cornelius Walker that he was in the intensive care unit, Kingston Public Hospital. He was in a terrible car accident. A mad driver ran across a red light, smashed in his car, it turned over and flung Cornelius Walker out of his vehicle. his brain was badly damaged.

Visiting him in the hospital 2 days later, Fr. Joseph Baal and I were disturbed by his physical condition. After 5 days, he had not regained consciousness though all sedatives had been removed the day before. The flesh of his face drooped to one side. He was totally unconscious. He was receiving oxygen by a mask. He was being fed intravenously. We lifted him up to the Lord. Fr. Joseph Baal and myself prayed over him. We hoped that his life would be spared. I could not help but think of the mystery of life, we do not know the day nor the hour. Two days later he was dead.

Without trials

Our brother who was questioned, now reassured that he was not to worry, stirred memories of my days when I was at Gun Court. I remember the hundreds of young men, locked up for life, without lawyers, beaten, without trials. I remember my own contacts with young men, struck on the face, and whipped and welted with marks on their bodies, then there was the terrible stench and bad food. I remember the case we had seen in various lock-ups, I remember one rasta man practically without clothes, bound up with wires on the cell bars and beaten with stripes over the neck and shoulders and chest. I remember the many insane persons at General Penitentiary. Those who are poor, without lawyers, without any defence, without justice.

This is why I work and live and dedicate my life to the brothers and the poor in the ghetto. We take in hundreds of homeless and destitute. The poor have no one to defend them and take care of them. The brothers and myself will continue to serve them no matter what the discouragement and false accusations may be. I give thanks to God for our lawyers Deacon Ronald Thwaites and Dennis Daly for their service of our brother who had undergone so much anxiety. They did it because they love the poor and they desire justice for the poor. I give thanks to Detective Champagne for his understanding and kindness. I am concerned however for those who have no one to defend them.

Finally, I give thanks that Missionaries of the poor are now totally one with the poor, including the murder of our brothers and the mental anguish suffered by one of our innocent brothers questioned.

I pray for Det, Cornelius Walker who is now dead. I wish we had the opportunity to talk before he died.

Very Rev Fr. Richard Ho Lung, MOP. Founder and Superior General, Missionaries of the Poor.