IT was a very sad and sombre mood in the air when the Jamaica Observer North East visited the Epworth community in St Ann where popular businessman and Justice of the Peace Colin Corrodus was murdered at his home last Monday.

Corrodus was killed after four armed men opened gunfire on him while he played dominoes with friends. The men reportedly demanded his licensed firearm before shooting him and knocking his wife unconscious.

Residents openly expressed grief as they shared their personal memories of the 82-year-old man who many say was like a councillor or member of Parliament (MP) to the community.

‘Mr C’ or ‘Mr Curry’ were names given to him by residents who described him as a “great community man”.

“If Andrew or Portia did dead, we wouldn’t feel it suh,” one woman who could not hide her grief stated.

“He is a man who love help people; him never say no. Everyone a mourn. He is like the councillor; he help build up the community,” the woman continued.

A man who identified himself as Harty agreed. He added: “He was like our MP; a no little him do for the community. Right now the people crown him one of the best man on earth.”

“Mi no like talk about it; anytime mi talk about it mi want to cry,” Harty said.

Residents said Corrodus was not only kind to them, but also that he worked in the community by doing whatever he could.

“When mi look and see the big man a chop bush, mi say he is a community man. He was very active; you would not believe that he is 82. He was a great man in the community. Mr Corrodus was a blessing to Epworth,” Melissa Campbell Stewart said.

She said Corrodus also contributed towards youth club activities and church functions in the community, and that he was always looking out for the development of the community.

“You can always call Mr Corrodus; he was concerned about the community,” she added.

Members of the community believe that those responsible for the death of the senior citizen should not get jail time, but deserve death.

“Dem no deserve fi go a prison because a we same one have to go feed dem,” one woman said.

The residents of Epworth were in one accord that Corrodus’s murder had caused fear and unease among residents, with one woman who declined to have here name printed saying: “People gone in from 6 o’clock in the evening.”