By Denise Clarke and Roy Sanford, Staff ReportersWESTERN BUREAU:
THE COURT case arising from a land dispute in Little Bay, Westmoreland, has stalled following the murder of the owner last month.
Prior to his death on January 20, John Eugster was involved in a legal battle in the Supreme Court involving 12 persons who were contesting his claim of ownership to more than 200 acres of land at Little Bay. The police suspect that Mr. Eugster's death was a reprisal killing arising from the land dispute.
The case has stalled since his death because Mr. Eugster's relatives have not yet indicated whether they will be pursuing the matter in the Supreme Court.
"We are awaiting instructions from his estate," said Queen's Counsel Dennis Morrison who had represented Mr. Eugster.
Operations at the guest house and farm owned by Mr. Eugster, and which employed 42 persons, have also ground to a halt. Some of the workers told The Gleaner that Mr. Eugster's relatives had expressed unwillingness to operate the businesses out of fear for their lives. The workers are also fearful.
"All the guests have cancelled (their bookings) because they say they don't want to come to Jamaica," said an employee who asked to remain anonymous. "We were fully booked for February and March before the incident and they have all cancelled and we are going to close it right now because no one from the family wants to come down here."
Mr. Eugster, who had lived in Jamaica for more than 30 years, was gunned down while on his farm in the Little Bay area. The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) reported that Mr. Eugster and another man were at the farm about 4:00 p.m., when a white Toyota Corolla motor car drove up. Three men, armed with guns, alighted from the vehicle and opened fire hitting the men. The gunmen then robbed the injured men of J$8,000, a mobile phone and a licensed semi-automatic pistol, bearing the serial number TDN0843 and loaded with 18 rounds, before escaping in the waiting car.
REPRISAL
The police believe Mr. Eugster's death was a reprisal for the killing of Violet McFarlane in June 2003, and have since taken three men into custody. The men have not been charged, however.
Ms. McFarlane, a resident of Little Bay, was chopped to death at her home by unknown assailants. At the time of her death, Ms. McFarlane was one of 12 persons involved in a legal battle with Mr. Eugster, concerning his claim to ownership of the land. At that time, some residents in the area had told The Gleaner that they believed Ms. McFarlane's death was connected to the land dispute. The property at Little Bay is located just outside the resort town of Negril.
Mr. Morrison defended his former client's claim, and said that Mr. Eugster had registered titles to the property.
