A Diego Martin mother is now appealing to the Housing Development Corporation for home after she and four relatives were chopped about their bodies at their Bagatelle Road, Diego Martin home yesterday.
Nicole Edwards, 32, a mother of two, common-law husband Darren Joseph, 42, and relatives Rico Joseph, 29, Wendell Joseph, 37 and Simon Ganteaume were chopped about their bodies by another relative.
In an interview outside the St James Infirmary yesterday, Edwards said she was told by her attacker that they should leave the property although her family paid $7,000 for their home, which is located on squatting land. She said this latest attack was preceded by an incident on March 23 in which two relatives went to her house and burnt the property to the ground.
However, she said although she moved next door to a neighbour’s house, the relative, who was alleged to have sold them the land, visited them yesterday and told them to leave.
Edwards, who sells T&T Guardian newspapers, said she was inside the house yesterday morning when the latest incident began and realised there was something awry when she heard her children crying.
“When I heard the drama and the children crying I see they (relatives) holding him (common-law husband) and chopping him,” she said.
She said her husband sustained injuries to both hands and other relatives who intervened, including the son of her attacker, was even chopped by mistake.
“I tried to intervene and I was chopped by my breast, my arm and my wrist,” she said, showing the bandages.
“We was in the hospital and he (attacker) still threatening me. He say nobody don’t come back down there.”
Edwards said up until late yesterday evening no statements had been taken from her by the police.
“I was paying $700 for a month and we pay him $7,000. Is squatting land but we had no other alternative, we have nowhere to go. I really scared to go back with my children and them. When we try to do better that is when the bacchanal start.”
Contacted on Edwards’ appeal yesterday, HDC managing director Brent Lyons said: “This requires much more information and investigation before any determination can be made.”
Also contacted yesterday, Western Division senior officers said the fire and the incident were under investigation and they were in the process of taking statements from the victims.