Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

Fifty-three-year-old June Lawrence wept uncontroll-ably as she viewed the charred remains of her son Orlando Long, 23, who was murdered yesterday with her other son Dale Lewis, 26, in the 'Board Jungle' area of Big Lane in Central Village, St. Catherine.

According to Ms. Lawrence, after hearing three explosions about 2:30 yesterday morning, her son Dale told her his brother Orlando's nearby board house was on fire and that he was going to try and put out the blaze. But in moments her worst fears would be realised.

"After him tell mi say him a go put out de blaze we start gather water and him start throw it on the house and begin fi knock pon di door but never get no answer," she told The Gleaner yesterday. "Mi hear some more explosion and when mi go look mi see (Dale) Lewis body pon de ground wid blood coming from all over him."

The distraught mother told The Gleaner that it was the third son she had lost within the past three years as, in 2004, another son Errol Brown, was also killed by gunmen in the area. She said she was so saddened by what had happened and that, after 30 years living in the area, she was ready to leave the community.

relatively calm

"A leave mi wa leave here because a pure tings a gwaan from wi get di work over the site at Twickenham Park and mi cyan tek it no more," Ms. Lawrence remarked as she continued to weep.

Several residents claimed the area has remained relatively calm in recent times as the police had intervened and appealed for peace. Previously there were frequent fights between persons from Top Big Lane and persons from the Board Jungle area where the two brothers were killed.

When The Gleaner arrived on the scene, Orlando's charred remains were seen atop a burnt-out bed spring. His mother said he was shot first and then burnt.

The area remained tense yesterday and the Central Village police, who are conducting investigations, said they would be stepping up operations in the area to establish peace. A unit from the Spanish Town Fire Department put out the blaze, but there was no estimate for the damage.