THE OFFICE of the Director of Public Prosecutions will rule "within the next five weeks" on the controversial Kraal shootings during which the Reneto Adams-led Crime Management Unit shot and killed four persons, including two women, last year.
Kraal is a district located near Pennants, north central Clarendon.
Yesterday, Brian Sykes, Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, confirmed that the ruling would be made next month. The file was formally handed over to that office last year November.
LOT OF WORK TO DO
Mr. Sykes explained that while it may seem that the DPP's office had the files for a lengthy time, it was not outside the norm, given the heavy workload of the prosecutors.
"Contrary to what people think, we don't sit around empty desks waiting for files to drop in our laps; we have regular court assignments, nine, sometimes 10 weeks out of a 13-week term," Mr. Sykes said.
The Kraal file contains 113 statements.
"We have to read through each of them, plus there is a forensic component - some of which was done in the U.K. and returned to us over time - which we have to examine. Plus, we then have to look at the witnesses' statements in light of the forensic evidence. This is one of the most thorough investigations that we have seen," Mr. Sykes said.
Susan Goffe of the group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), is protesting the lengthy period nonetheless, and called on the office to "make a ruling now."
"At the end of October last year, the file was handed over to the DPP, and since then, we're heard that the ruling would be presented in March, and now, we're hearing April," said Ms. Goffe.
"While we concede that it is a large amount of evidence and statements, the authorities must understand that the long delay only leads to more questions and speculation, and it is time that the DPP makes a ruling now on this case."
