As we reported last night, accused killer James Swan Jr. walked out of the Supreme Court yesterday morning a free man. Swan was accused of killing Tyrone Felix in May of 2006. The DPP withdrew the murder charge after the main witness recanted his story. It's the kind of thing that happens all too often, but this case is brought into sharp focus because of the victims of the crime. Tyrone Felix was killed at the height of a crime wave and from the aftermath of his death, his mom Therese Felix launched a regionally recognized campaign against violence. Now, this community leader, who forged courage from grief, has to swallow what for her is a bitter pill. Today we got her reaction.
Keith Swift Reporting,
On May 14th of 2006 Tyrone "Shabba" Felix was killed just steps from his home on Gill Street. Two days later, James Swan Jr. was charged for his
murder. His mother Therese Felix spoke to us the morning after the murder.
Therese Felix
[May 15th, 2006] "I am trying to be strong because I have them. I can't be crying, it hurts me...I don't fear because once you show them you fear, you are weak. I won't make them beat me."
And in July of 2006 Felix used that strength to form Mothers Organized for Peace - a group of ten mothers in the Yabra area who, like Therese, lost their sons to gun violence. On July 3rd Therese led the mothers in a successful candlelight vigil through the Port Loyola division. [Click here for full story.]
And now after starting a movement, and keeping with it, Therese Felix today says that she didn't expect that the man accused of killing her son would walk free.
Therese Felix,
"Keith to be honest with you man my eye water came because the person who they had as the eyewitness, man I talked to this person everyday, I talked to this person. I talked to him Monday, I talked to him Tuesday, and I talked to him Wednesday. And all the time I talked to him, he told me he had my back. I wasn't out there to see when they killed Tyrone, he was out there. So if you saw something and you want this to stop then talk and say what you see. Don't talk and tell me this and then when the time comes you back down like a punk.
That hurts me because I called him a friend and he calls me a friend and then when the times comes that is what he did. He is playing you know Keith because if you see something you should do it because you don't know when your turn might come. I might be right there to see your turn too and I won't turn my back from you, I will help you too. If I am to testify, I will testify for you too. So it hurts me because I thought we were alright, I thought we were friends but now you know who are your friends.
This man was with me through everything I did and this is the payback I got from him. Like I said money talks, but that will only last for a while. He has his turn too. I could walk with my head up any day and I won't turn my back either, I won't look behind me."
And though she is angry and frustrated - Therese says she will keep going.
Therese Felix,
"Keith I won't give up, this won't frustrate me. This will make me stronger my brother. This makes me stronger because I am not a weakling. And once you show them that you're weak, you will have to be afraid. Nobody can't weak me so easy. This is a fight. I made up my mind to be in this and I will be in this until I see justice because those young boys can't be coming across to our side, kill our young people, go to court, and just walk down from there. I am not paying anybody to go and testify for me. Whatever you see, if you want to say you see, you see. If they want to pay to go testify, because just like how they knocked down my boy, they have their turn coming too. Nobody knows when it will be their day."
Keith Swift,
You think you'll ever get justice for your son?
Therese Felix,
"Justice, no justice. That man dah top isn't sleeping though and word spread. The world is on a ball, what goes around comes around. Today it is my turn, tomorrow it is your turn. So see how strong I stand up, they killed my son and I stay strong. This is the verdict and I stay strong too and I will keep on going strong."
We note that after the vigil against violence, there was a momentary decrease in murders on the south side. As for her son's murder, James Swan Jr. can be rearrested.
