When Leslie Lewis got a call about his cousins yesterday, he thought he would have been reminded to transport one of them to Kingston as planned.
He was stunned to discover he would be visiting a murder scene as 69-year-old Christine Lewis, a retired teacher and justice of the peace (JP), and her physically challenged 72-year-old sister Lola Lewis were killed at their Spring Village home in Old Harbour, St Catherine.
"I was supposed to pick [Christine] up and take her this morning to deal with her life insurance," Leslie told The Gleaner yesterday. "I was shocked to learn that there was a double murder here. This is unbelievable."
Yesterday, as the grim news spread throughout the community, residents gathered near the house, expressing shock at the incident.
Randy Finikin, community development officer of the Spring Village Development Foundation, said the gruesome act has damaged the peaceful fabric of the community.
"This has crippled the community with fear, sadness and shock as this is unheard of," Finikin said.
"I know Christine as a vibrant JP in the community. She also taught at the Spring Garden Primary before her retirement, yet she continued to giveback, and now this wicked act," he added.
While the police had not yet established a motive, there was speculation that the women may have been robbed.
Investigations continue.