SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — The usually quiet community of New Market Oval in Savanna- la-Mar has been left in shock following a violent family dispute that left a nurse battling for life in hospital and her husband dead.

The husband, Nesta Anderson, a window maker and disc jockey, was from a neighbouring community. Police report that the couple had been involved in a dispute at their home when the woman was allegedly stabbed by Anderson.

Following the attack, Anderson used a ratchet knife to inflict stab wounds to his abdomen about 10:30 am Thursday.

He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Jamaica Observer was told that the couple, who had been together for more than a decade, has three young children.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the children witnessed the incident. When the Observer visited the community, police were processing the scene, while residents shied away from speaking publicly about the matter.

President of the Cooke Street Benevolent Society Bishop O’Neil Russell said he spoke with Anderson just a few days ago and that the incident came as a complete shock as the family was known to be quiet.

“We had a conversation because, you know, there were some things that the benevolent society was supposed to do for him.

We are always in constant dialogue, but he had not shown any sign of depression. It is so shocking. It comes as a shock to see really what took place,” stated Russell.

Councillor Julian Chang (Jamaica Labour Party, Savanna-la-Mar Division), who visited the scene, expressed sadness over the tragedy.

“It’s not anything to rejoice over. We all have issues, and we all have problems. We all go through things,” stated Chang.

She noted that the community, which was devastated by Hurricane Melissa last October, is already under stress and attempting to rebuild.

“We understand the constraints, but you know, we have to deal with our problems better than this, instead of taking our own lives or taking the lives of others,” stated Chang, who joined Russell in calling on people having problems to seek help.

Domestic violence, it can affect anyone regardless of our income, education, or social status. It stretches across all socio-economic backgrounds. We just have to understand that it is right in our midst and we should not be ashamed of it.

We should seek help. And I implore the persons in the Savanna-la-Mar Division, or anywhere for that matter in Jamaica, to seek help because I’m sure there are telltale signs even before it occurs,” Chang said.

She also emphasised the need for community sensitisation to stop judging victims and instead offer support, “because we all deserve to be safe in our own homes”.