Relatives of a man killed at a house he shared with his baby’s mother and two-month-old daughter in Mango Valley, St Mary last week, are questioning the circumstances under which he died and whether the truth is being told about the incident which led to his tragic death.
Ralph McFarlene, 26-year-old chef who works on the overseas work programme, was killed during an alleged dispute at the home he had been staying for the last few weeks with his baby’s mother and some of her relatives, including one of the woman’s brothers who is reportedly responsible for his death.
McFarlene only returned to Jamaica on November 12 and had been staying with his baby’s mother Brandice Smith where he was reportedly bonding with his two-month-old daughter. He also has a three-year-old son who lives in St. Catherine. According to reports from the police, McFarlene was chopped to death during an altercation with another man on Wednesday, December 17. The incident occurred about 8:30 p.m. Reports are that an argument developed between McFarlene and his baby’s mother. Her brother reportedly intervened and during the altercation McFarlene was reportedly chopped on the hand.
He died while being treated at the St. Ann’s Bay hospital.
When North Coast Times visited the premises in Mango Valley, no one at the house, where several people were at the time, would speak about the incident. Contacted by telephone, Smith who has left the house since the tragic incident said the matter was still being investigated by the police and she could not talk about it.
She however told The Times that she was saddened by the incident which led to the death of her child’s father. She said he had recently returned from the US and was staying with her and the baby. McFarlene is from Three Hills, also in the parish. She said the two had a normal day before tragedy struck later that night. She said she prepared his breakfast and he kissed both her and the baby and headed out. Smith said she had called out from work that day because she wasn’t feeling well.
“He was a nice person, caring, kind,loving, he was a good father,” she said he was not violent and that the only time she had a problem with him was when he had too much to drink. She told The Times that on his return to the house later that evening he seemed to have had too much to drink.
North Coast Times was told that the couple was arguing over McFarlene’s behaviour when he drinks. Smith was reportedly telling him to leave the house because she he was a different person when he was drunk. The Times was told that the argument escalated and McFarlene said he would leave but not without his new born. That was when other relatives reportedly intervened.Mr McFarlanes sister, Deann said the family was angry because what they have been told about the incident was not the truth.
The full story will be carried in the next issue of The Times, January 5.
