PAIN AND AGONY

In a scathing message, the teenage daughter of murder convict Omar Collymore accused him of robbing the family of their “rock” – her mother – and the “amazing life” that she had, adding that she hoped he was left feeling bitter and would think about the pain he had caused his children.

“My last name isn’t even my last name. I hope you listen to this, have a bitter feeling in your heart, and go to sleep thinking about what you have caused your children to go through these past six years and what kind of father you are,” the teen wrote.

The 14-year-old, in a victim impact report, which was read in the Home Circuit Court on Wednesday during the sentencing hearing for Collymore and his cronies, detailed the impact of her mother’s murder on her, her brother, and the wider family. She related the psychological trauma that she has had to endure and her mixed feelings towards her dad.

“My mom was amazing, loving, caring and an open-hearted person. She loved and cared about her family and everyone around and it’s truly sad that someone my brother and I called Dad, … you took her away – the rock of the family, the light of our family and so much more.

“I have been in therapy about 10 times because I have bad dreams or thinking that people are going to hurt me like you did my mom,” her statement read.

GRATEFUL FOR MOTHER FIGURES

The teenager, who, along with her brother, were at home when their mother was fatally shot 19 times outside their gate, said despite the loss, she is thankful for the lovely mother figures in her life, including her grandmother and aunt, who have ensured that she still has a good life.

She said that she is trying “to repair” and to forgive her father.

“I had an amazing life and so did you, but selfishness beat you that you had to kill and hurt my role model and I am writing this hoping that God helps you find Him and [you] follow His words and get mental and psychological help because I have and I am getting better,” the daughter further said.

While disclosing that she did not have a close relationship with Collymore because he had clung closer to her brother and had shut her out, she shared that her brother was not doing well.

“He is not showing any emotion and I know deep down inside he is hurting to know that his role model killed his mother,” she said.

Giving thanks for the love and support of her maternal grandparents and family, she expressed disappointment that Collymore’s parents had not reached out to her and her brother.

Collymore, who had sat with his arms folded while listening intently as the statement was being read, was later seen mumbling something before beckoning to his lawyer, Diane Jobson, when the statement was finished. It was later revealed that he expressed doubt that those could be the words of his daughter.

Simone Campbell-Collymore and taxi driver Winston Walters were killed when men rode up on motorcycles and sprayed them with bullets as they waited to be let inside Campbell-Collymore’s Forest Ridge apartment complex in Red Hills, St Andrew, on January 2, 2018.

The 32-year-old mother of two was shot 19 times, while the taxi driver, 36, was shot five times.

Collymore, 41, a United States businessman; contract killer Michael Adams; and Dwayne Pink were found guilty of the murders as well as conspiracy to murder on May 15 after a four-month long trial.

Shaquilla Edwards, a co-accused, was only convicted of conspiracy to murder.

Campbell Collymore’s father, Wayne Campbell, in a similar statement, said that her murder affected the entire family as relatives had to seek therapy and treatment for different medical conditions.

He noted that his wife has had to seek medical attention for stress after attending the trial.

Wayne said further that the family has not had any closure and does not believe it is even possible.

“Our life has changed forever. We have been living through a nightmare which seems like it will never end,” he said.

According to him, his daughter, who was a pillar of strength and unity for the family, was the heir to the family business empire.

Jewel-Ann Walter, in her victim impact statement, said that she is constantly plagued by the memories of her husband’s death and has regular meltdowns.

She said her three children – ages 14, 10, and eight – also break down during the Christmas period as they remember that it is the time close to when they had lost their father.

She said his death has affected them mentally and that she is now left to shoulder the financial burden as the sole breadwinner and that she is barely coping.

“At times, it feels as if I am going crazy,” she said, while noting that she would never get over her husband’s death and that her heart has eternal sorrow and sad memories.

Meanwhile, Acting Senior Director of Public Prosecutions Andrea Martin Swaby, during her submission before Justice Leighton Pusey, has asked that both Collymore and Adams be sentenced to life in prison for each of the murders, with the men serving 46 and a half years in prison before parole eligibility in respect to Campbell-Collymore’s murder and 48 and a half years for Walters’ murder.

However, she recommended a slightly lower sentence for Pink based on the minimal role he played in the murder plot.

Martin Swaby asked also that he be sentenced to life in prison for both murders but that he be ordered to serve 41 and a half years before being eligible for parole for Campbell-Collymore’s murder and 43 and a half for the other murder.

As it relates to Edwards, she recommended six and a half years, but the judge told her that given that the maximum was 10 years and that the convict had already served six and a half years in prison, that time would be outside of the court’s jurisdiction.

As a result, he told her that she could only propose three and a half years.

In the meantime, the men were remanded for the conclusion of their sentencing on Tuesday after Collymore’s lawyer indicated that she was seeking more time as she had an issue with the social enquiry report.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com