Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, March 22, 2021
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
There have been over 300 murders since the beginning of the year. Every single one is tragic, but one of the most senseless has left Jamaica’s film community reeling. We understand that videographer and photographer Courtney Sutherland was shot dead in an act of road rage after he was involved in a motor vehicle crash on Washington Boulevard. A Crime Stop notice has been issued. We hope the murderer will be brought to justice.
Courtney’s brother Dean posted this on Instagram with emojis of hearts and weeping: “This is my brother Courtney Sutherland, this is hard for me to text what I am feeling. This is my brother. This is my brother. They have a saying… ‘you never know what you’ve had until you have lost it’… Trust me I know what I had with my brother, and I know what we all have lost. RIP my brother… I will always and forever love you. This is so hard to process right now.”
My friend film-maker Natalie Thompson wrote: “I have not been able to speak openly on fb about the senseless killing of Courtney. It hurts. It tested whatever faith I had, and it threatened to break my spirit. I cry for the family especially his wife and daughters (Kaylin, I know you were always with him) his brothers especially my precious Squid and his wife Anna and his sister and their families. This cannot be easy. Praying for you all and for Jamaica.”
Between murders, COVID-19, and road deaths, the bereaved are many. Because of the pandemic we cannot visit, but we can call, so please reach out however you can and give comfort.
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