Outspoken media personality Marcia Henville, 51, died in her home at Fidelis Heights, St Augustine, early yesterday morning.Police and fire services were called on the scene, alerted by a fire at the home, and discovered Henville's body.The Sunday Guardian understands that first responders found her body when they entered her bedroom.
At the house, there were no visible signs of fire damage, as the fire appeared to have reached only Henville's bedroom on the upper floor. Police cordoned off the house and closed the gates to the small community housing. The media were not allowed inside the gated housing development.
Henville shared the house with a male relative and her two adult children. While the two children, aged 23 and 19, escaped unharmed, the male relative was said to have sustained burns to 35 per cent of his body and is currently at hospital warded in a serious but stable condition.
Police have also indicated that there are no suspects in the case as yet, though a male relative is assisting with the investigation.The Sunday Guardian was informed that neighbours also reported to police that they heard a loud argument and the sound of a woman screaming before the fire was spotted.
Marcia Henville wasstruggling to deal with domestic problems
While co-workers and colleagues describe Henville as "vocal," "vibrant," "robust," and a "voice for the voiceless," they knew of one issue Henville kept silent on: she had her own domestic problems and trials to deal with which were taking a toll on her.Her friend Fulton Wilson took to his Facebook page yesterday where he revealed a different side to the courageous TV personality as she struggled to deal with her own issues.
Wilson's post read: "I just got the news about Marcia Henville from my neighbour. I am devastated, angry, sad, upset, etc. Knew her over 20 years. After I left journalism our paths hardly crossed except for the occasional gym meeting. That changed recently when she came to me...documents were due to be signed and filed on Monday..."In a subsequent telephone interview, Wilson elaborated.
"I spoke at length with her and she was very enthusiastic... She alluded that the house was going to be an issue, but she was determined..." While Wilson said he could not speak on the issue, he said that Henville shared her secret with her close inner circle of friends.Wilson also called for a speedy post-mortem for his friend, saying that it would help resolve this matter quickly.
Other longtime media friends also said she told them recently that she was "fearful for her life."Two of Henville's media friends yesterday revealed that in the last six months, she told them that she was scared for her life because of an escalating domestic situation.Her lawyer confirmed this.Friends said she was planning to move out of her St Augustine home late last year, but changed her mind.
Henville's sudden death sent shockwaves through the media. Several former and current members of the media also took to Facebook to express their grief.There was also an outpouring of condolences from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and two political parties, the Congress of the People and the Independent Liberal Party.
Last year, when Henville's 19-year-old son, Chioke Henville, appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court to answer five charges, including possession of a shotgun and eight rounds of ammunition, she was very supportive of him. She faced severe public criticisms for this.The young Henville was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 and is expected to reappear in court on February 4. But this time his mother will not be around to support him.
JeArlean John:She was a robust personality, always kind to the poor
Henville's former boss, Housing Development Corporation managing director, Jearlean John, yesterday described Henville as a "robust personality.""She was always a joy to work with. I did not know her in any personal capacity, but she was always helpful and kind to the poor and downtrodden," John said."She understood the folks looking for a hand up and was full of empathy for their situations," John said.