By CECILY ASSON Sunday, January 17 2010

IT was double tragedy for a Rio Claro family on Friday night when the flooring boards in the house where a wake was being held for murder victim Kevon Raymond, collapsed. Several people were injured. The wake was being held at the home of Raymond’s uncle, Clinton Humphrey, whose house is situated in front of Raymond’s.

Four persons, including two children who fell through the flooring, received severe burns when a pot of boiling fish broth tumbled off a lit stove.

The unidentified victims were rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where they were treated and subsequently warded in satisfactory condition. Others who were hurt were treated and discharged.

On Thursday morning, Raymond, 32, of Grant Street, Rio Claro, was found dead in bed with his hands tied behind his back and a quantity of jewelry and electronic items missing from his home. Police believe robbery was the motive for the murder.

Yesterday, Humphrey confirmed the incident to Newsday, saying that the flooring could not take the weight of the people attending the wake. “Right now I am trying to repair the floor as tonight is the final wake night and we expect even more people,” he said.

Humphrey said that since the news of his nephew’s death, many people have been attending the family’s home to offer sympathy.

“Plenty people came to the wake and the flooring just couldn’t take the weight of the people and so it gave in,” Humphrey said. Humphrey told Newsday that the wake was in progress with singing and clapping, when persons began screaming. “It was chaos as mourners just fell through flooring. The fish broth was on the fire and together with the stove and everything collapsed,” Humphrey said. One of the victims was burnt in the stomach. “Three of them are expected to be discharged today (Saturday),” he added.