By : Alan Lewin
A 30-year-old street vendor was stabbed to death near where she did business for ten years in Montego Bay. Her lover, her alleged attacker was hospitalized with what are said to be self inflicted wounds, following the attack on the woman.
Dead is Natoya Slowley of Cacoon in Hanover.
Slowley was stabbed to death on Tuesday morning, October 14 along St James Street in the region of the shoes market.
Ms Slowley’s aunt Jean Messam, is lamenting the fact that many people who saw what was happening refrained from rendering assistance to the wounded woman who had been repeatedly stabbed. She said even taxi operators and close friends did not come to the woman’s assistance.
Ms Messam said many car owners on the scene of the incident refused to place the wounded woman in their cars, to take her speedily to hospital; action she said could have saved Slowley’s life.
Ms Messam said she kept crying out for assistance for an hour, and no one came to her assistance. She said that by the time she took Slowley to the hospital it was too late.
Another eye witness said she saw a man stab the woman repeatedly, and when a man and a security guard at the arcade tried to intervene in the dispute they both were attacked, and had to run.
It is reported that following the attack on Slowley, her alleged attacker used the same knife to inflict multiple stab wounds to his own body. Both were taken to hospital together where Slowley died and the alleged attacker admitted under police guard.
There are reports that the two had a relationship that went sour recently and Slowley said she would end it.
Friends and family members remember Slowley as a jovial and outspoken woman who they said did not deserve to die the way she did.
She has been operating her stall at the intersection of St James and Church streets for ten years, since taking up residence in the western part of the island. She is said to have originated in Clarendon.
Natasha Slowley: Natoya Slowley who was stabbed to death on Tuesday Morning.
Family: Family members are seen gathered at the spot where Natoya Slowley could be seen on St James Street, selling on a daily basis. (From lef), Yvonne Lewis grandmother; Jean Messam, aunt and Charmaine Sally aunt of the deceased.
