Altercation between Uncle & Nephews Leads to Fatal Chopping/Stabbing
A death investigation is underway in Orange Walk, following an altercation between an uncle and two of his nephews. Jockey Anthony Deras, who also goes by the surname Bartley, died after he was chopped and stabbed multiple times in front of his three children at his home just off Narciso Street. But as News Five found out from his common-law wife today, the incident began at the racetrack at the People’s Stadium where Deras frequented every day. Duane Moody files this report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Tonight, the family of Anthony Deras is grappling with his death, after he was fatally chopped and stabbed during an altercation with two of his nephews. Since the incident, Orange Walk police have been recording statements from witness who observed the vicious attack and killing of Deras on the family property. But as we found out from his common-law wife, the conflict began at the People’s Stadium.
Abigail Carrillo, Common-law Wife of Deceased
“I mi think he get injured from the horse expecting that one day coming home that he will die from the horse cause he loved riding horse. That dah his thing. When he come he say some guy chopped him at the People’s Stadium. My younger daughter, the seven-year-old, she was with him. She say the bwai chop he ina ih back, over ih eye and ih hand. Ih say I noh really know what all happen back dehn and she run from the scene cause she get fraid and she gone hide under something. I gone ask my father-in-law and he say ih get wah bad chop ina ih back, and pan ih hand and ih get over ih eye. Ih say I supposedly think that he gone dah the hospital.”
Abigail Carrillo says that she got on her bike and rode to the Northern Regional Hospital where she later found that Deras had discharged himself from the Accident and Emergency Unit. She later found him at home, angry about having been attacked by his own relatives
Abigail Carrillo
“Ih come in and I tell ahn what happened again and he say them bwai. And then ih tell ih pa, yo see – them bwai, them bwai. Like that he tell ahn. And then he gone ina di house. I tell ahn weh happen, talk to me and make me and you go inside and make we talk this out so we noh have to go through all of that. And then ih mi so anger from what dehn do to him back ah stadium. Then afterwards, he said them bwai ina anger. And I say, which bwai? Ih say Geezy. I tell ahn weh Geezy do you? Ih day dah noh Myron cause Myron mi deh under the house bottom ina di hammock. Ih say dah noh Myron, dah Geezy. I say what Geezy do you? I mi think dah Myron cause dah he and Myron mi already ketch ina wah thing.”
Duane Moody
“Myron and Geezy are what to him?”
Abigail Carrillo
“They are his nephew.”
What happened next ended with Deras’ life being taken in front of his wife and three children – ages seven, ten and sixteen.
“Myron get up, gone upstairs grab ih machete because Anthony, my common-law, he gone inside, he come out with a machete as well. I tell ahn put down the machete, unu noh have to go through that. We noh want no problem. And then he tell me just move out of the way and then he gone by the step and then I follow him. Myron mi deh upstairs with a machete and knife upstairs and when Anthony chopped the step because he was in anger – not at Myron; he chopped the step and Myron take the knife and juk it like that and watch Anthony Deras with an anger and di do the knife like that. Myron jumped over and attacked him with the machete and the knife and they reached facing the lime stick front of my house. And then dah right there Myron chop Anthony on the foot and Anthony fell on his knees. And then he see Geezy coming, running to come help his brother Myron finish him. When I gone dah di neighbour and tell ahn please call the police and looked back, dehn mi got him pna my house lean up. I noh know if dah right there dehn do the stabbing. Then when he get the stab, he run cross dah the officer – cause we have an officer weh dah our neighbour. He run cross deh; dehn mi deh behind the house. Then dehn come out around by the Kingdom Hall and he mi deh lean up deh. And that dah when he put ih hand, Myron chop ahn yah – open up wah big chop. And he give up because he start to bleed and ih look like he done mi di bleed and ih look like he done mi di get weak and he tell me, “I wah dead. Iwah dead.”
By the time police arrived at the location, his nephews had reportedly fled the scene after inflicting the deadly injuries. What triggered the altercation is unknown, but Carrillo says that despite children’s cries for the attack to stop, Deras was mortally wounded.
Abigail Carrillo
“They were crying and screaming why are you chopping my dad. And they holler he already got hurt. Why? The middle one said he cannot defend himself – unu di chance him, the both ah you guys. Unu wah kill my dad! Like that she said.”
Duane Moody
“And that did not stop it…”
Abigail Carrillo
“But they could have avoid it because they could have gone upstairs because I know my father-in-law would not have let him upstairs. They could have just walked away cause he was already injured. How he will fight two of them, even with a machete. First time I see something happening in front of me and I cannot do anything to help him cause I do not want to get involved or in between cause I might get chopped as well.”
Statements have been recorded and the case file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who will decide what charges, if any, will be levelled for the killing of Deras. Duane Moody for News Five.