As 2017 draws to a close, we look back at some of the stories that caught the public’s attention over the year.
This story was originally published on January 29, 2017.
Before the sun had even risen yesterday in the close-knit community of Monroe Road, Haggatt Hall, St Michael, death was already in the air.
During a routine walk to her beloved church, 74-year-old Verona Gibson was killed by a pack of vicious dogs.
Police launched a full investigation into the woman’s death, taking a dog owner into custody for questioning.
“In this circumstance we are investigating and trying to get to the bottom of it. We will try to establish if there are any criminal charges that can come out of the investigation,” Acting Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for crime, Lybron Sobers, told the SUNDAY SUN.
“A lot depends on what comes out of the investigation, in terms of what will be unearthed. What were the actions of the owner of the dog would have to be determined. Those are the things we will have to look at, and also if the dogs were kept under the right circumstances according to the laws pertaining to pets, and if the owner was in any way, directly involved in the attack. We are looking into every possible area.”
According to police, Gibson, who returned to Barbados from an overseas trip only last Sunday, left her home in Monroe Road around 5.30 a.m. yesterday to carry out her routine duties at the nearby St Barnabas Anglican Church.
But the retired nurse at the Sir Winston Scott Polyclinic had barely made it a few metres from her home when she was savagely killed by what is being estimated by residents as up to seven dogs.
Thirty-year-old resident Damien McCollin, who was nearby, tried to save Gibson from the gruesome attack, but he too fell prey and was hospitalised at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with multiple injuries.
With blank expressions on their faces, residents watched as police carried out their investigations. Many of them said it was hard to come to grips with grim incident, as they expressed not only shock, but dismay about the circumstances.
Sinclair King, who was an eyewitness to the attacks, said he tried to intervene and save Gibson’s life, but was unable to save her despite his best efforts.
“I feel sorry for the family because I raise up knowing the family. That woman is a well loved woman, that’s why everybody up here is traumatised,” he said.
“She was just out strolling, doing her regular thing and that transpired. It’s not like she passed by anybody and something happen.”
Police investigations revealed that one of the dogs which attacked Gibson, belonged to nearby resident Chris Rock.
Family formed a prayer circle around Gibson’s son Roger Beckles, who was not in a position to comment.
While visibly distressed, relative Vernetta Gibson was able to muster the composure to speak as she explained that she and Gibson regularly made the trek every third Saturday to clean St Barnabas before the Sunday service.
She explained that she grew suspicious yesterday after waiting longer than usual for Gibson and seeing police and ambulances pass in that direction.
Her suspicions were cruelly confirmed as she learned the fate that had befallen the woman she called “aunty”.
St Barnabas Church rector Mark Harewood was also shaken by the event.
“This morning someone called me and said: “You heard about Ms Gibson?” Reverend Harewood said.
“I thought she was just bitten by a dog, but then someone called back and said no, she had been mauled by dogs and that she was dead. To hear that she’s been mauled was very distressing,” he added.
Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Roland Cobbler said that up to press time the dog owner was still assisting police with their investigations.
Cobbler reminded owners that they had a responsibility to ensure they dogs were properly secured as strict liability was outlined in the Dogs (Licensing and Control Act) Chapter 177.
Gibson’s husband passed away years ago, but she is survived by her son Roger Beckles, daughter Brenda Beckles who resides in Florida, the USA, and two grand-children. (NATION ARCHIVES)
