MEMBERS of the family of Delroy Walker — the man who was stabbed to death after returning to the island for retirement — says that they are “thankful and grateful” for the work that the police have done so far done .

Family spokesman Steve Walker, in a telephone interview with the Jamaica Observer yesterday, said that the family is pleased that the police have brought” two people to a place of arrest “ and that the two have been charged .

“ I’m not sure how the judicial system works in Jamaica, but as a family we are hoping that the maximum sentence is given [if found guilty] for the murder of my brother. Yes, we are happy as a family; yes we are saddened that it led to this when Delroy was trying to give them the opportunity, but we are grateful to the police.

“It’s sad that Delroy’s life was ended this way when he was trying to help Jamaica and the community. So we are happy about the progress,” said Walker, who lives in the United Kingdom.

The police, on Wednesday, said that two men have been charged with Walker’s murder after his body was found at his house in Tower Isle, St Mary, on April 19 .

The accused are 25-year-old Dwayne Barton, and 25-year-old Davian Edwards, also called Ganja Man, both of Stewart Town in St Mary. They are scheduled to appear in the St Mary Parish Court tomorrow.

The police said Delroy Walker was killed a few days after an altercation with Barton and Edwards over work that had been done to his house. He had reportedly been dissatisfied with the work done and refused to pay the agreed amount, which fuelled the dispute. Residents reportedly noticed a trail of blood leading from the house about 9:15 am on April 19 and summoned the police, who found the 63-year-old’s body with multiple stab wounds.

The former United Kingdom resident had only returned to the country eight months prior to his death. His wife, Pauline, was expected to join him in a matter of weeks. She had flown back to their South London home only days before his horrific murder.

— Kimone Francis