ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É

A minister of religion is calling for the murderers of returning resident Simon Blanchard to turn themselves in.

"You took leave of your senses on June 26. Now that your senses have returned, I call on you to have justice done to your dastardly deed. You plunged a sharp instrument into the body of a man who had a heart of gold. I borrow a line from Shakespeare ' this was the most unkindest cut of all". I beseech you save the police to have to find you. Call a lawyer and let him take you in so the law will have its course," said Reverend Wayne Smith, as he delivered the sermon at Blanchard's thanksgiving service on Friday at the Kettering Baptist Church in Trelawny.

Blanchard, 60, was found laying outside his gate at Retreat Heights, in a pool of blood on June 26. Dr Michael Godfrey, who discovered his body, spoke glowingly of his deceased friend and neighbour.

"Simon was such a kind and gentle person. He was always in his garden looking after his flowers and his fruit trees. Anybody passing by would be offered some mangoes. Right now the yard is eerie. All the mangoes are falling to the ground with no one to pick them up and share them like Simon did," he said.

Blanchard's brother, Hugh, delivered the eulogy. He noted that his brother was born in Daniel Town but left Jamaica at an early age as his parents went back to England.

"His love for Jamaica never died and he watched the clock to see when he would become eligible for retirement. The moment he reached the magical 20 years of service, he sold his house and bought his dream house in Retreat," he said. "He was always doing some work on the house. When he visited England, it was just for two weeks. We will miss him greatly."

Evette Simms, a member of the Retreat Heights Community Group, said Blanchard will never be forgotten. He replaced all the street signs in the community and was known for beautifying the area.

"You could hear the sound of a lawnmower at work [and] you did not have to look, you knew it was Simon taking care of the hedges. [He was] such a wonderful soul who did not deserve to die like that," she said.

Blanchard's body will be cremated at a later date.