The burnt-out remains of the Mitsubishi Galant, which was driven by businesswoman Petal Murray, who was found dead in Petersfield, Westmoreland, on Friday. -Photo by Dalton Laing

Dalton Laing, Gleaner Writer

The body of cane farmer and businesswoman, Petal Murray, 47, of Water Works district in Westmoreland, was found in the bushes in the Carawena area of Petersfield in the parish on Friday.

Mrs. Murray was found with her throat slashed and her forehead bashed in, while the charred remains of her Mitsubishi Galant motor car were discovered a short distance from her corpse.

Gruesome discovery

The gruesome discovery was made by farmers who were headed for their fields shortly after daybreak.

"Me go fe tie out mi goat dem and when mi a guh, mi si a patch a blood, so mi seh a mus' smaddy dem kill ya so," said Glendon Lewis, one of the three men whofound the body. "So mi come back out pon di road and see two a mi frien' and wi start look until we find di body."

Another of the trio, who gave his name only as Brian, said he saw the burnt-out car and became suspicious.

"Mi did a guh a work an' when mi look, mi si di cyaar inna di canefield bun out," he said.

Brian then went on to explain that he saw Lewis who told him of the blood, at which time they all agreed the two instances were linked.

"We trail di blood mark until we fin' di smaddy underneath di plum tree," said Brian.

A woman who lives in the Pipers Corner area, close to where Murray was found, said at about 11 o'clock Thursday night, she heard sounds like a woman crying for help. She said the cries came amidst the roar of a speeding car, which had loud music so she was not surprised when she learnt about the killing.

The Savanna-la-Mar police, who are carrying out the investigations, have since combed both areas for evidence.