‘Screwface’ found with apparent gunshot to his head after being picked up in The City

Troubling details are emerging regarding the apparent execution that is believed to have unfolded sometime during the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. national curfew.

In addition to lingering questions, the slaying of Matthew Screwface Cumberbatch, 35, of New Orleans, St Michael has also left an unfillable void in the hearts of relatives and friends in the inner city community.

Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Station Sergeant Michael Blackman revealed the body of this year’s first murder victim was found by police at around 8 a.m in a track near Forde’s Land, White Hall, St. Michael. According to the PRO, police were on patrol when they were informed about the discovery.

Barbados TODAY however learned that moments before curfew, Cumberbatch was picked up by a black vehicle at New Orleans, St. Michael. This was the last time he was seen alive.

With blood on her palms after identifying the body, Naomi Cumberbatch recalled seeing gunshot wounds on the head and shoulder of her son, who had already been placed in a police body bag.

With tears in her eyes, the mother of three reminisced on the life of her “loving” son as well as his worrisome lifestyle.

“There will always be good memories with Matthew and also bad memories, like the company that he kept, but he was a very loving child. People choose their own path, but Matthew was a very loving child,” Naomi told Barbados TODAY.

“I understand that a car came and picked him up. That is what I was told this morning. All I know is that he left in a car last night, but he would have had to know the people, because he wouldn’t have gotten in a car so without knowing the people,” the grieving mother added.

Close friends of Matthew confirmed the account, adding that he was at a girlfriend’s house when the black car pulled up.

“He was the type of person that would get up and look for his money and I believe he got hurt while looking for his money,” revealed a close friend, who also added, “he had his good ways as well”.

When asked to expound, the friend who wanted to remain anonymous, explained that life is difficult in Barbados and for many, there were no available “Monday to Friday jobs”.

“If he had something to sell, he would look for his money… and I honestly believed that whoever called him last night and carried him wherever they carried him, it would have had to be a ‘money scene’. He would also have had to trust the person as well, because he wouldn’t have gone with anybody just like that,” said the teary-eyed friend.

“Everybody has their ways, but when it comes to giving and doing, his heart was really nice… He would land by me and see me doing work and he would tear off his [working] clothes and help me. That is one thing about him. If I ever had wares in the sink he would wash my wares and he even washed my towels one time when my hand was broken,” the friend recalled.

The news was particularly difficult for Matthew’s ‘wife’ Nadira Sue who is the mother of his elder child. Moments after agreeing to an interview, she broke down. “I can’t do this!” she said weeping.

According to relatives and friends, the deceased picked up the name Screwface while at the St. George Secondary School because of his serious demeanor.

Since then, the 35-year-old has had brushes with the law. In 2016, he was held in connection with a shootout and in August 2019 he was charged with assault.

According to his mother, Matthew’s last job was with the national debushing programme.
(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)