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DPP wants cops arrested! New dispensation fi real!
Police puzzle - Arrest them! DPP wants cops involved in Grants Pen shooting arrested
published: Friday | October 5, 2007
Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator
Derrick Smith addresses journalists at a press briefing in Grants Pen, St. Andrew, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kent Pantry, has given instructions for the four policemen implicated in last Friday's controversial killing of 18-year-old André Thomas in Grants Pen, St. Andrew, to be arrested.
The Gleaner was told that the decision was made yesterday following a high-level meeting held at the DPP's office in downtown Kingston. Several senior officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force were in attendance.
Reports are that detectives attached to the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) have already collected nine statements from some key persons, including the proprietor of a private garage, where the vehicle used to transport the deceased was taken after the shooting.A spokesperson at the BSI said the team is now awaiting the forensic results to conduct further investigations. At least seven policemen have been investigated and charged this year by the BSI.
Since January, the police have been involved in 176 cases of fatal shootings, resulting in the death of 202 persons. Also, there have been 93 other cases where 112 persons were shot and injured by the police. The BSI is also probing 152 cases in which members of the police force illegally discharged their firearms.
Controversial shootings
Last Friday's shooting is just one of 1,300 controversial shootings the BSI is probing. Some of the unsolved cases date back seven years. Last year, there were 438 outstanding cases; the previous year's figure was 341.
The statistics show a steady increase each year. For example, in 2004, it stood at 183; the year before it was 82; in 2002, it was 42 and 16 in 2001. The BSI said in 2000 they had 22 outstanding cases.
Residents of the inner-city community of Grants Pen are claiming that Mr. Thomas was stopped and shot by the police along Grants Pen Road. They say he was shot in the arm and leg, then taken up by the police who drove away and finished him off. He was pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital, reportedly with more than the two bullet wounds he had originally received.
Police reports in relation to the incident are that Mr. Thomas was among a group of men seen acting suspiciously. It is alleged that when they approached the men, Mr. Thomas pulled a firearm and opened fire at the police. The lawmen took evasive action and Mr. Thomas was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire.
published: Friday | October 5, 2007
Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator
Derrick Smith addresses journalists at a press briefing in Grants Pen, St. Andrew, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kent Pantry, has given instructions for the four policemen implicated in last Friday's controversial killing of 18-year-old André Thomas in Grants Pen, St. Andrew, to be arrested.
The Gleaner was told that the decision was made yesterday following a high-level meeting held at the DPP's office in downtown Kingston. Several senior officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force were in attendance.
Reports are that detectives attached to the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) have already collected nine statements from some key persons, including the proprietor of a private garage, where the vehicle used to transport the deceased was taken after the shooting.A spokesperson at the BSI said the team is now awaiting the forensic results to conduct further investigations. At least seven policemen have been investigated and charged this year by the BSI.
Since January, the police have been involved in 176 cases of fatal shootings, resulting in the death of 202 persons. Also, there have been 93 other cases where 112 persons were shot and injured by the police. The BSI is also probing 152 cases in which members of the police force illegally discharged their firearms.
Controversial shootings
Last Friday's shooting is just one of 1,300 controversial shootings the BSI is probing. Some of the unsolved cases date back seven years. Last year, there were 438 outstanding cases; the previous year's figure was 341.
The statistics show a steady increase each year. For example, in 2004, it stood at 183; the year before it was 82; in 2002, it was 42 and 16 in 2001. The BSI said in 2000 they had 22 outstanding cases.
Residents of the inner-city community of Grants Pen are claiming that Mr. Thomas was stopped and shot by the police along Grants Pen Road. They say he was shot in the arm and leg, then taken up by the police who drove away and finished him off. He was pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital, reportedly with more than the two bullet wounds he had originally received.
Police reports in relation to the incident are that Mr. Thomas was among a group of men seen acting suspiciously. It is alleged that when they approached the men, Mr. Thomas pulled a firearm and opened fire at the police. The lawmen took evasive action and Mr. Thomas was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire.
