Laborie community reeling after woman killed months after her sister

Residents of Londonderry, Laborie, are still reeling from the effects of the homicide that took place in the community a few days ago.

On Monday, May 23, the body of Catherine Charles, 56, was discovered near her home with marks of violence about her body. There was a trail of blood from near her home, leading to where her body was found a few metres away.

Her body was discovered by her brother, with whom she lived along with her father. At the time of her death, they were not at home.

“This is strange. I don’t even know if it’s a set of people trying to kill the entire family,” John Pierre, another family member of the deceased said. Last November, Catherine's sister Mary Charles was found dead in her home, located not too far away.

He said, however, that he is not afraid.

Benedicta Alexander, a resident of the community and relative of the deceased said: “She was a very quiet individual, who was always by herself. If you talk to her, she would talk to you, if you don’t talk to her, she would not talk to you.”

Alexander said that the incident surprised her and left her distraught.

‘I am not feeling well. Up to now, I can’t sleep,” she grieved.

Blaise Bondeaumaitre said the incident has left the entire community in shock and disbelief since the deceased was not involved in any violent activities.

Another resident said the deceased sometimes behaved strangely and could often be seen by herself walking down the road.

“I really can’t understand why someone will want to kill Catherine, a person who is so quiet and hardly speaks to anyone,” the resident said.

She added that many of the people living in the area are related.