A second cousin to Grenada’s Olympic gold medallist, Kirani James has been murdered in St. John.
33-year old Lennon Marshall was killed in the early hours of last Saturday morning at Upper Depradine Street in Gouyave in a chopping incident involving Jallil and Cassius Smith who have been charged with non-capital murder.
Cassius Rikel Smith, 23 years and Jallil Smith, 22 years, were arraigned Tuesday at the Gouyave Magistrate Court before Magistrate Francine Foster who set January 13th for the start of the Preliminary Inquiry.
Eyewitness have said Marshall was attacked with a cutlass when he tried to intervene on his brother’s behalf following an incident shortly before, between the Smiths and his elder sibling.
The mother of the victim, Beverley Marshall has said she is not holding a grudge against the two young men charged with her son’s murder.
Speaking after the arraignment of the Smith’s cousin, the mother said she could not bring herself to say anything negative about the two murder suspects.
“I don’t have nothing bad to say about nobody. Jallil is my Godson. I have nothing bad to say,” she said.
According to the mother the incident is a tragedy for all the families involved and they are related by blood.
“These two people are supposed to be my child’s cousins. I don’t know what could have drive them to do this thing. This is a question for them to answer,” a sorrowful Marshall said to this newspaper.
However, several people have told THE NEW TODAY that the killing has not come as a surprise.
Lennon Marshall
Witnesses said Cassius Smith, who wielded a cutlass during the incident had been heard on multiple occasions in the days leading up, vowing to kill.
Tchidi Williams was present at Upper Depradine Street when Marshall was chopped in the head and arm.
In an interview with this newspaper, he said the attackers did not hesitate to inflict the injuries on Marshall, which later claimed his life.
Marshall was a fisherman and avid sailor, winning events in the Grenada Sailing Festival workboat category on numerous occasions with the boat Riot Act.
His mother said her son was peaceful and quiet.
“Lennon was a people’s person. Lennon was not a bad person. He was not a violent person.”
Marshall leaves behind a son, 9 years and a 7 year old daughter.