Onlookers yesterday viewing the hanging body of Hugh Wright (foreground) who committed suicide after chopping his wife Natalie to death in Glengoffe, St. Catherine on Wednesday. Mr. Wright hung himself from a mango tree in Lucky Hill on the border of St. Mary and St Catherine, approximately two miles from where he had killed his wife on Valentine's Day. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

The lifeless body of Hugh Wright, 38, was found hanging from a mango tree yesterday morning, hours after he hacked his wife, Natalie to death in the presence of several children at her home in Glengoffe, St. Catherine.

Several persons in the community yesterday claimed that this kind of thing was bound to happen sooner or later.

"For the last 16 years him beat and chop her repeatedly and in fact, dem supposed to go back a court this month because him cut her and try fi hang one of di children. Mi warn her till mi tired and look yah now," recounted Leon Reynolds, Natalie's father.

Reports are that about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Wright went to his wife's house and asked that one of their sons accompany him to reap peas. The child hesitated. Wright then asked for a measuring can. His wife told him she could not find it and then an argument developed. Wright then allegedly rushed into the house after the son and his wife followed him. When the son ran from the house, Wright picked up a hoe and hit his wife on the head. She fell to the ground while holding their two-year-old baby. Wright then reportedly picked up a machete and used it to chop her repeatedly all over her body.

Sons rushed to her assistance

Two of the couple's other sons rushed to her assistance and they too were attacked by Wright. He chopped them both. Wright then ran from the yard and was not seen again until his body was found about 7:00 a.m. yesterday, hanging from a mango tree on his farm in Lucky Hill district, about five miles away.

Several persons who viewed the body reported that Wright was a very dangerous man who constantly fought with and hurt his wife and children. The Glengoffe police confirmed that the man was constantly in problems with the law.

Several of the couple's seven children wept openly when The Gleaner visited the scene where their mother was hacked to death.

In the meantime, the police are conducting investigations into the incident.