Special Constable Hogarth, 20, who was assigned to Harman Barracks, was shot dead at his home at Braham Road in Ewarton, St. Catherine yesterday.

According to reports from the Ewarton Police about 11:50 a.m., Hogarth and a female companion were at home when explosions were heard. It was later discovered that he had been shot. He was taken to the Linstead Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.

His female companion has since been taken into custody for questioning in relation to the incident; her identity is withheld pending further investigations.

Investigations continue.

The measure has not been carried out since 1991, and has been suspended since 1995 following the landmark ruling by the British Privy Council in the Pratt and Morgan murder case.

That ruling determined that it was inhumane to carry out executions of persons who have been on death row for five years or more.

But according to Observer interviews, there is a real sense of urgency and a deep desire among Jamaicans here for a serious reduction in the country’s murder rate and one way to .

Audley Sylvester, a Brooklyn-based businessman said that while he understands that there are risks associated with the death penalty, especially as it relates to the possible execution of the innocent, “a stand has to be taken against the hardcore criminals who show no respect for human lives”.

He said if the perpetrators of murders continue to feel they will not face a similar fate as their victims they will continue to destroy the country.

Support for a return to capital punishment also came from Connecticut resident Milton Edwards who argued that “it should be used once all doubts of innocence have been removed”.

Similar sentiments were also expressed by Patricia Jones,a travel agent who pointed to the “serious effects the murder rate is having on tourism and Jamaicans who want to invest in our country”.

Curtis Martin, a Masachusetts state police officer, also offered what he said was conditional support for the death penalty. He said that as long as there is overwhelming evidence backed by DNA, the measure would be appropriate.

And Earl Hall, a New York-based ex-correctional officer said he thinks capital punishment should form part of Jamaica’s crime fighting strategy.

He said that even if it is used as a tool to deter those who plan and carry out such murders, it would could help to lower Jamaica’s murder rate.

Still, not everyone here sees the return of capital punishment as a means of significantly reducing the murder rate in their native Jamaica.

Media personality Sharon Gordon said the question as to whether or not execution of convicted murders should resume has left her in a quandary.

On one hand, my moral conscience is saying we have to be compassionate, but what do you tell those people who have been affected by these barbaric acts?”

She said that strong action is needed to deal with the situation. And Horace Thomas, who heads the Jamaica National Movement here, said he is “totally opposed” to the idea of using capital punishment to help reduce the murder rate.

He said the matter needs increased social intervention. Thomas also pointed to swift manner in which the police have apprehended suspects in a number of the recent murders — including the eight in Tredegar Park — as a sign that the citizens are beginning to play a more active role in fighting crime.

Source: Jamaica Observer
BY HAROLD G BAILEY Observer writer

Kingston

A driver who drew attention to himself by driving the wrong way up a one-way street in downtown Kingston this morning, was subsequently searched and a revolver and 51 assorted rounds of ammunition found in the car.

The Kingston Central Police reported that a patrol was on duty in the vicinity of Princess and Charles Streets about 9:30 am, when they observed a car driving in the wrong direction along the one-way road.

Police then signalled the driver to stop the car and during their search of the vehicle, discovered a .38 Taurus revolver, one .38 cartridge and 50 9 mm rounds.

Two persons, the 37-year-old driver of the car and his passenger, a woman aged 42, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

St Catherine

An operation to locate and apprehend a suspect yesterday led to the seizure of an illegal firearm at Hartlands, Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Police from the Spanish Town Police Station when into Hartlands about 4:15 pm in search of a suspect in a case of shooting with intent.

When they got to a section of the community, the suspect and another man were observed sitting beside a house. When the officers approached, the suspect reportedly fled, leaving behind a plastic bag, which the other man tried to hide under the cellar of the house.

The officers apprehended the man as he tried to hide the bag. A Ruger .357 Magnum revolver, serial number 15856934, was found in the bag.

The second man was arrested and is now being held pending an interview. It is expected that he will be charged for breaches of the Firearm Act.

Source: Jamaica Observer

TWO district constables from the Kingston Central Division have been arrested by members of the Anti Corruption Branch for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a motorist in order not to prosecute him.

Reports are that about 9:00 pm last Friday a motorist was driving his car along Old Hope Road in St Andrew when he ran the red light at the intersection of Old Hope Road and Oxford Road.

He was spotted and stopped by the two District Constables who were travelling behind him.

They allegedly asked for and accepted a $3,000 bribe from the motorist

Members of the ACB who were on surveillance intervened and the two district constables were held.

They were arrested and placed in custody.

A file is being prepared and will be submitted to the director of public prosecutions for a ruling.

Source: Jamaica Observer

ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann – A policeman involved in the shooting of a man under questionable circumstances in Brown’s Town, St Ann two years ago has been charged.

Constable Damion Jarrett, who at the time of the shooting, was assigned to the Brown’s Town police, has been charged with unlawful wounding.

Jarrett was charged following investigations by the Bureau of Special Investigations and a ruling by the Director of Public Prosecution.

He is accused of using his service pistol to shot and injure Rovel Alexander during an altercation in 2008.

In court today, constable Jarrett’s attorney, Oswest Senior Smith, said the constable’s firearm accidentally went off and injured the man.

According Senior Smith, the policeman came under attack from the complainant who had attacked him with stones.

He told the court his client was pursuing his attacker who had reportedly injured him with stones when he fell and a round discharged from his firearm.

The lawyer said the policeman was carrying a weapon that did not have on any safety cap.

According to the prosecution, the policeman and Alexander were involved in an argument when Alexander reportedly began hurling stones at the lawman.

Police reportedly began chasing Alexander when an explosion was heard and it was discovered that he was shot.

Constable Jarrett is to return to court on September 7.

Source: Jamaica Observer
BY ALESIA EDWARDS Observer reporter

a firefight in Parker Beach, Clarendon.

Two men — one identified as Clarendon’s most wanted Milton Lewis, also called ‘Askel’ or ‘Forty-five’ — were killed by the police in the gunfight.

Superintendent Dathan Henry, head of the May Pen police, said the injured policeman was shot in the upper arm and was admitted in serious but stable condition in hospital.

The injured policeman’s identity is being withheld by the Observer because of concern for his safety.

“The operation was aimed at capturing Lewis; we had information that he was in the area and we went there for him,” said Henry.

“When it was over we found that the constable was shot and that the two gunmen were neutralised. We identified Lewis but we have not yet identified the other man,” Henry said.

At least one illegal firearm was taken from yesterday’s shooting scene, the police said.

Lewis, according to the police, was wanted for the January murders of Constable Clive Virgo and businessman Dwight Johnson, as well as several gun crimes committed in the Milk River and Four Paths communities in the parish.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Events in video contrasted with those related in CCN report

BREAKING new ground for citizen journalism in Jamaica, TVJ moments ago broadcast footage supplied by a member of the public showing what appears to be a policeman executing a murder suspect.

Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington has ordered the immediate arrest of the policemen involved in the incident. Ellington also instructed that stop orders be placed on the policemen involved at all ports of entry.

“The entire Jamaica Constabulary Force family deeply regrets this incident and we want to apologise to the family of the person involved and all decent citizens of Jamaica. I will take every action necessary to prevent any future occurrence and I am asking citizens to be courageous, strong, and alert,” he said in a statement.

The video taken in Buckfield, St Ann, shows policemen beating and shooting to death a man lying on the ground who appeard to be unarmed and subdued.

The Commissioner applauded the bravery of the citizen who brought the footage to the attention of the wider public and encouraged any other witnesses of police misconduct to do likewise, “…as this provides the best opportunity for the police to rid the force of those members who would want to act outside of the law.”

Events captured in the video contrasted with the version of events reported by the Constabulary Communication Network and subsequently published on the Jamaica Observer website earlier today.

Source: Jamaica Observer

THE police sergeant who was earlier this month charged for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act has been granted bail, while a second policeman has been charged in relation to the incident.

Police Sergeant Alvin Reid, who is attached to the Port Antonio Police Station, was arrested during a sting operation in early July, which was set up after he allegedly approached a businessman and offered to dispose of a case for him for $100,000. Following the operation, a file was prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who ruled that the sergeant be charged.

The other policeman charged in relation to the incident is Special Constable Creg Scott-Afflick, who is also attached to the Port Antonio Police Station. Constable Scott-Afflick solicited  $200, 000 from the same businessman in order not to seize his goods.

Both men were granted bail when they appeared before the Port Antonio Resident Magistrate’s Court, and are to return to court on September 24, 2010.

Source: Jamaica Observer

THE police last night increased the tally of illegal firearms and ammunition removed from the nation’s streets when four firearms and eight assorted rounds of ammunition were seized in three separate operations in St Andrew, St Ann, and Hanover.

The count started shortly after 5:00 pm, when a team of police officers was on a cordon and search operation in the St Andrew South Division.

Checks at a 23 Glen Road, Kingston 13 premises led to the recovery of an M15 assault rifle, with serial number L18069, and an advanced carbine rifle, with serial number LJ1057, that were buried in the yard.

Detectives from the Hunts Bay CIB have not yet made an arrest, but they are continuing their investigations.

Then about 8:20 pm, police responded to a report of a robbery in Great Pond, Ocho Rios, St Ann. When they got to the premises, the alleged gunman had escaped, leaving behind a 9mm pistol, serial number erased, and a magazine containing six 9mm rounds.

An identification card bearing the name David Archer Gordon of Gordon Boulevard, Gordon Pen, St Catherine was also found at the scene. The Ocho Rios Police are therefore asking Gordon to contact them at 974-2533, police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.

Officers are also appealing to members of the public who may have information on Gordon’s whereabouts to contact them.

Officers added the final gun to the tally about 10:30 pm.

A team of police officers from the Sandy Bay Police Station was on operation in Haddington District, Hanover, when a house occupied by 23-year-old Odane Earl, otherwise called ‘Mad Rat’, and Lamoye Paul, 20, otherwise called ‘Denver’ was searched, and a homemade shotgun with two 12-gauge cartridges found.

Both Earl and Paul were arrested.

Investigations are continuing.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Reports are that about 11:30 pm, Corporal Duncan received reports of thugs breaking into a shop and responded. On his approach to the shop, the thugs who were in the building, exited through a back door and shot him.

They escaped and the corporal was taken to the Savanna-la-mar Hospital where he died, while undergoing treatment.

The Ramble Police are investigating.