Man dies after being struck with stone

A 51-year-old Point Fortin man died at hospital yesterday — six days after he was struck on his head with a boulder by a man whom he refused to give some food. Juston Jones, an employee of Atlantic LNG, was pronounced dead at the Point Fortin District Hospital where relatives had rushed him after he groaned in pain for hours on Saturday night. Jones’ sister, Yvonne Romaine, told Newsday: “I heard him moaning and turning in the bed all night. But I thought it was the effect of the medicine that the doctor gave him.”

Police have begun searching for the suspect, a 40-year-old man, of Pundit Street, who recently served a five-year sentence for robbery with violence. Since his recent release, the suspect was said to be living a beggar’s life, and often roamed the village in search of food and work. According to Romaine, her brother, who lived opposite to her house at Moses Street, visited her on Friday and related her an altercation he had with another man on Tuesday. “He (Jones) said a man came into his yard and was asking for food.  Jones told the man ‘no,’ and  picked up a pebble and pelt it trying to chase the man from his yard. But the man picked up a big stone and threw it back at him (Jones). Jones was struck on his head, and when the father of two sought medical attention at the district hospital, he was given pain killers and discharged. Romaine said, however, that when a lump subsequently emerged on the spot on Jones’ head where he was struck, a friend of the deceased advised him to return to the doctor. 

On Friday, Romaine said her brother began experiencing headaches. By Saturday when the headaches became more severe, she took him back to the hospital where he was again administered medication and sent home. The medication, Romaine said, made him very drowsy. But Romaine said by Saturday night, she sensed something was wrong as her brother groaned as if in constant pain as he lay in bed. Around 5.30 am yesterday, Jones’ family rushed him to the nearby hospital, but Jones did not survive the short journey. Romaine, who shared a close relationship with her brother, said he was looking forward to the upcoming Christmas season. “Only Friday he told me he wanted us to go and buy some curtains next week. He was excited about fixing up his house for Christmas this year.” An autopsy is expected to be performed on Jones’ body today at the Forensic Science Centre. Point Fortin Police are continuing investigations.