Jess Remembered

Mr Jesus C. Bebita, called “Jess” by his friends, was a school principal in the Philippines, before deciding to come to Australia in 2013 for what his friend said he hoped would be “greener pastures”.

But in the early hours of Tuesday morning Jess died in his flat in Parker Street, Scone and his death is now the subject of a murder investigation.

Elden Fuentes, was a high school friend of Jess, they went through college together and became school principals, he was proud of his friend moving to Australia to make a better life for his family and devastated that the hopes and dreams of his friend were taken away.

“He was a person who was humble and a caring friend, a religious person,” said Mr Fuentes.

“He loved being in Australia and he was processing his documents to become an Australian resident and to bring his family to Australia, his daughter is three,” he said.

“He has a cousin there and he helped his cousin to be employed in Australia, he has two cousins and a sister there on a study visa,” he said.

“Last November when he visited he said he wanted to earn more money and planned to get a business to help his family and said he told me I would be invited for the blessing.

“I learned that he was studying in Australia to further his studies and be a teacher in Australia.

“I feel sad for him being so young and he had many hopes and things he wanted to do,” he said.

“I hope that justice will be served,” Elden Fuentes said.

Brianna-Jo Schulz, briefly worked with Jess in the JBS and described him as a beautiful man.

“I didn’t know him long, but he warmed my heart,” said Ms Schulz.

“He was the bread winner for his whole family, he sent money back to them and he did whatever he could for them and never thought of himself he always thought of others, whether it be at work, sharpening one of my knives so that I could work easier or realising someone had forgotten their lunch and sharing his, or seeing someone sitting alone and calling them over to sit with them,” she said.

“He was so excited to go and visit his daughter next year for her fourth birthday and he was so excited.

“He went to church on Sunday, he was constantly happy and loved his family, I just don’t understand.

“He will be missed greatly and I hope everyone has his wife and daughter and family in their hearts and prayers for this long road ahead,” she said.

“It’s just a horrible thing to happen and a lot of people are very shaken from it,” Brianna-Jo Schulz said.

Jamie Cust, who was charged with Jess’ murder, had worked with Jess in the boning room at JBS, but other employees said Jamie had not been at work for a couple of weeks.

The Australian Meat Industry Employees Union has established a GoFundMe campaign to help support Jess’ family.

They described him as “one of the AMIEU Newcastle and Northern NSW Branch’s leading delegates – a man who proudly stood up for his fellow workers when it counted and always put his hand up to help others.”

Violet Baker, the neighbour of Jess is still shaken and saddened by the loss of her neighbour and described him as a quiet and lovely neighbour.

Ms Baker said Jess was always helping other people, especially his family and said she and her fellow elderly neighbours could always count on Jess to help them when they needed it.

“We talked the night before and he was going away for Christmas, he brought me a Christmas present and he was going away camping with his cousin,” she said.

“It was so close and he was such a nice fella and that’s what I can’t understand,” she said.

Related stories:

• Murder Matter Adjourned – December 19, 2018.
• Man Charged with Murder – December 19, 2018.
• Police Confirm Murder Investigation – December 18, 2018.
• Suspicious Death in Scone– December 18, 2018.
• Police Confirm Murder Investigation.– December 18, 2018.
• Police Investigate: Body Found in Scone.– December 18, 2018.