Anthony Frederick Francis appeared in the District âCâ Magistrateâs Court in Barbados on Wednesday, charged in connection with the killing of his 54-year-old Vincentian neighbour Laurette Diana Skeete,{{more}} who was found dead in her Marchfield Close, St Philip, Barbados home over the weekend.
Francis, 47, a carpenter, has been charged with serious bodily harm, but that is expected to be upgraded following a post mortem on the body.
Skeete, also known as âJunieâ, was discovered lying on the floor of her home, with a wire around her neck, around 8:20 a.m. last Saturday morning.
The gruesome discovery was made by her 25-year-old daughter Sherris Lewis.
Laurette, originally from New Prospect, migrated to Barbados about 20 years ago. Her mother, Ina Lewis, told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday that although she had limited communication with her daughter, she was saddened by the news of Lauretteâs death.
âMe and she hardly use to talk. I canât tell when last I hear from she, but is me daughter and I feel sad,â Lewis said.
Skeete, commonly known as Joanie or Kiddy, is the fourth of twelve children for Ina. She grew up in the village of Simon, New Prospect, before migrating to Barbados as an adult.
Apart from her daughter Sherris who lives in Barbados, Laurette also has another daughter, a son and two grandsons who reside in St Vincent.