Mother’s vision leads to gruesome discovery of her murdered son

THREE repeated visions on Sunday night of her son burnt to death led a Sangre Grande mother to the gruesome discovery of her murdered son. Following three disturbing dreams between 10 pm and midnight Sunday and the knowledge that her son went missing after she heard a gunshot, Lucy Harewood followed her vision half a mile into a forested area off Road 7, Bois Bande village, Sangre Grande, yesterday and found the remains of her son Courtney Cornelius a.k.a Neil, 24, with 90 percent of his  body partially burnt. The body was covered with burnt tyres.

The police, who were also in the area searching for the body, were contacted. His right foot was completely burnt off, while there were severe burns to his left foot and other parts of his body. District Medical Officer Dr Tamtico visited the scene and ordered the body removed to the  Forensic Science Centre. According to reports around 12.45 am on Sunday, after watching television at his brother Clarence Courtney’s home, the construction labourer left to go by a friend and deliver a message. A pair of sneakers and jersey belonging to Neil were discovered in front the friend’s home.

Shortly after leaving his brother’s home residents heard a shot but no one bothered to check. Later that night when Neil did not return home a search was made, following which a report was made to the Sangre Grande police station. The police made an unsuccessful  search and planned to resume yesterday morning. Following her visions, the mother together with other relatives around 8 am made the discovery. Mother and relatives had to be assisted out the forested area as they collapsed from grief. When Newsday visited the Road 6, Bois Bande, home of Harewood where Neil sometimes stayed, the sobbing woman, unable to restrain her tears, called for justice. “Neil was a quiet, loving child who did not deserve to die so. He had no enemies or quarrel with anyone. “He made people laugh. I want his killers found.”

The grieving mother explained that following her return from the Baptist anniversary celebrations in Mayaro on Sunday night she learnt her son was missing. She also explained that she heard a lone gun shot earlier that morning but did not take it on because she thought  it was firecrackers from a party nearby. “With that I went to sleep and had three disturbing dreams where I saw my son killed and burnt.” Neil Courtney’s murder was the 81st for 2005.