Self Defence; the reason Lavern lit David White on fire
david white
When relationships go bad, one musical artist’s popular lyrics is to just “Let it Burn.” Unfortunately, that literally happened within the tumultuous relationship of a well known court personnel, Lavern Longsworth and her common-law-husband, thirty-two year old David White. Longsworth’s arrest came last week Thursday night after a domestic dispute ended when Longsworth doused White with kerosene and set him on fire. The thirty-five year old mother of three appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer where she was charged with one count of attempted murder. Bail is not normally offered for attempted murder; however, she secured bail in the sum of six thousand dollars and was released from custody. News Five spoke to Longsworth this afternoon who said that White abused her on several occasions prior to Thursday night’s incident.
Jose Sanchez
“Before this incident happened, what was happening between you and Mister White?”
Lavern Longsworth, Accused of setting David White on Fire
lavern longsworth
“He just start to smoke again and thief me like that. He got my TV dah pawn shop right now inna somebody else name—he pawn out my TV. He thief me two hundred and fifty dollars last week Sunday night which was his birthday, the eleventh of July. All my children social and thing deh inna my purse, everything and now I have to go apply fi that back right now. And I feel bad fi hafto go pay fi thing weh he tek from me and go pay fi thing fi get it back. And I mi just get tired of it and the night when he asked me for the ten dollars, he gone and come back and I just tek the thing and just dash it pan ahn.”
Jose Sanchez
“But where did the kerosene come from in the first place? I understand that it was already in the room.”
Lavern Longsworth
“Yes, dah he bring it from behind the safe and he put it in the room and then I move it from the room and I ker it to where I mi deh the sit down in the chair.”
Jose Sanchez
“Do you have any idea why he would just randomly take kerosene and put it in the room?”
Lavern Longsworth
“I noh know why he mi do it that night deh. But when he get vex and can’t get his own way he always try do thing to himself fi frustrate me more.”
Jose Sanchez
“You did do what you did do. Do you regret it? What do you feel at this point regarding him and what has happened?”
Lavern Longsworth
“I feel bad but weh I do, but it done happen already. I can’t do nothing.”
Jose Sanchez
“Now Lavern, I know this might not be anything that you don’t want to discuss, but has there been any physical violence in the past?”
Lavern Longsworth
“Yes.”
Jose Sanchez
“He’s hit you?”
Lavern Longsworth
“Yes.”
Jose Sanchez
“So if his condition worsens, what will your defense be? Is it self defense?”
Lavern Longsworth
“Self defense, definite. And I have my people weh know weh di happen and everybody know weh di happen.”
Longsworth did not have an attorney to represent her today. Her next court appearance is set for August twenty-sixth.
The b….. got what he deserved, sadly lavern waited till she had kids and then beaten to the point where she burned that ……. with match and oil.
hope for the kids/mother sake the b…… live to wish he was dead.
Lavern, it is not your fault he was bad, you are really changing peoples lives, bravo.
Why no attorney to represent her?
Can somone please offer some pro bono servieces to Ms. Longsworth?
Is there even a culture of pro bono work in the legal circles of Belize?
Anthichrist the set man on fire……oh lard…
I am a woman and I fully understand that no-one wants to be abused. Some women stay in an abusive relationship for the wrong reason and after it gets out of control the turn to violence. Maybe he got what he deserves who knows but it was not up to Laverne to set a human being on fire if he did that to her the country would be in an uproar about abuse against women, she should have left the relationship along time ago now she stands to loose her family and freedom,and be real people i think they should give her a mental examination because it seems that she is not playing with a full deck!
if you search the internet you will find plenty of court stories about David White, burglaries…. only the people at the court can tellyou waht wasn’t reported. And that is Lavern is the only person who cared enough to pay his bail for him.
I think the people of the court know she didnt’ want to hurt him, why else would she always bail him. its clearly not premeditated. poor lavern, she’s had a hard life, but she’s no killer.
That someone posted bail warms my heart. Several people described her as crazy. That’s not a good enough reason to beat or take advantage of her. If the stories about her childhood is accurate, it left her vulnerable to abuse. I second Tyadia, she needs an attorney, make us proud, show us that one of you have a heart.
Don’t worry lavern every ting will be ok he not goin to mess with you any more. There is only somuch one person can take he will never do dat to another woman good 4 him I no sarry fe ah.
I don’t think this is self-defense its just cruelty. There is no reason to light someone on fire.
well I hope she …………., so he will never see again and will not be able to abuse this poor antichrist, OH in fact I hope he dies or else when he come out, she betta run and hyde I di tell you.
he wen come out full a revenge
@macal.. I can’t say that she right or wrong but hey… You right! She need to watch herself if he pulls through. She will get it bad though if he dies and still has no attourney.
Since she spoke on the news though, she would need a really good attourney to plea temorary insanity. She look like she didnt mean it since she out him. She was just trying to get his attention is suppose.Hope she did.
First of all none of those kids are his…people get your stories straight. I know his family very well and I know of their relationship and believe me when I tell you she is no victim. All of you people who claim to know so much about her should have tried living with her. Ask her how many times that man had to rob others at her demand. Ask her how many times she was abusive to him. Ask her why she took someone else’s son and destroyed his life. What about the other two men she already killed…ask her about David’ cousin…yes the same man you are all condemming. A lor of women stay with a man because they have absolutely no self esteem or are too d… lazy to get out and work and make a life for their children. It does not matter what he did to her she had more than enough time to get out or put him out. He left her for someone else…he moved on…and she destroyed the relationship and took him back. All of you who are praising her for what she did should ask yourself one thing…What if it was your child, brother or any other family member…how would you feel. People there is always anotehr alternative, violence solves nothing. Only GOD can and will judge…dont think for a minute that she is free.
Machal,
You must be a very lonely individual…obviously you lack love, try praying for your sins.
Very valid comments Andrea. I dont praise or support violence…their are other ways of self defense she could have used…
Maybe you should speak to Police about what you know Andrea
Andrea, you are so right. I am not an advocate of violence and I can only wish the best for Lavern and David. It is obvious that they both need help and God is the only answer. We don’t know all of the circumstances surrounding their situation, but I do know clearly, that the evil one did his job (destruction). In previous article regarding Nigel, Machal had absolutely nothing positive or constructive to share with our people. This alerted my attention that Machal need God’s help as well, and I also directed her to try GOD. It is a Blessing that News-5 give us the opportunity to share our views with our Belizean people, which we should use as an educational tool to divert our mind from mental slavery and all the negativities which is a plague to us and our country. Machal, please ask GOD to direct your mind?. Ask HIM for guidance, to wash away the anger & hate that is devouring your soul, and to bless you with LOVE. If you do this, I am quite sure that you will not continue to embarrass yourself, trust me. I’m sorry, trust GOD.