Vigil Tomorrow: In Memory Of George Lynch
Tomorrow evening the community action group ‘Colford’s Family Against Violence’ will be hosting a Candlelight Vigil in memory of George Lynch who was gunned down one year ago today [May 5].
Mr Lynch, a born Jamaican, moved to Canada when he was 25, later moving to Bermuda. He held a degree from York University, and worked at King Edward Hospital as a houseman.
He and his Bermudian wife Nekesha Holdipp have three daughters together, with the youngest daughter born after Mr Lynch’s murder. Mr Lynch was also stepfather to Ms. Holdipp’s oldest son Enharo, and played an active part in his life.
Mr Lynch was shot on May 5th 2010 while standing outside a Midland Heights residence. The house also happened to be the same locatuon that the assault of Temasgan Furbert previously took place, and the home of a witness in the trial, which ended in some of the men charged being convicted.
Mr Lynch was standing outside the residence with two persons [who were never officially named] when he was shot once in the chest, dying shortly after. Two men – who had previously stood trial for the assault of Temasgan Furbert – were arrested in connection with the murder, but charges were never laid.
After his murder, Mr Lynch’s family in Canada said that he was an innocent man in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he “paid for it with his life”. They said “he went to a neighbours house to help out, not knowing the neighbour was the target of men charged in an assault case”.
At the time of his murder the Bermuda Police would not officially confirm if the Temasgan Furbert trial and murder were related, calling it a “giant leap” to assume they were.
His brother Clinton previously said he believes gang members killed Mr Lynch, and said if it doesn’t stop with his brother, “where does it stop, a 10 year old child?” His father, Leonard Lynch, spoke highly of his son, calling him a warm loving person.
His Canadian based family had called upon the Canadian Federal Government to “pressure the Bermudian Government to bring the killers to justice in the death of a Canadian citizen”.
The vigil will be held tomorrow evening [May 6] at 8pm at My Lords Bay Road on the field on the right. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The event is being organised by the group ‘Colfords Family Against Violence,’ which was formed after 29-year-old Colford Ferguson was murdered last month. The family said they “decided that we as a community need to take a stand and come together to put an end to this senseless violence that is plaguing our small island.”
RIP Mr Lynch, met you only once but always hear good things about you, walk good.