THE EDITOR, Sir:DO WE remember her? A 13-year-old with a future that held so much promise of her being a doctor, or was it a lawyer? Well who knows? We cannot know what she could have been or might have become as that chance was snatched from her, her loved ones and this country with the careless discharging of a policeman's gun.
And so she went, the hope of the future, the child in which tomorrow's fate is entrusted, killed in an unfeelingly brutal display of force by the police that is an all too familiar occurrence in police/community relations in this country.
One wonders who will be next. Who will be next? My five-year-old niece, Kiekie, whom I adore with all my heart, my older brother Mark, someone I don't know or me?
The thought of it shocks my conscience into outrage. Something rotten took place in the courts a few days ago.
The entire saga reeks with the smell of conspiracy. Somebody killed little Janice, that persons was later identified to be a police officer. The Director of Public Prosecution ruled that he should be charged for it. The bullet is forensically linked to a gun he signed for, however, the registry at the police station, which keeps the records of gun assignments, is tampered with during the preliminary court hearing.
The court gives no order and no request is made by the crown to seize this book into evidence. Later the Denham Town Police Station tells a story that the register cannot be found, as it was supposedly lost in a fire or some balderdash line of the sort. Hence, a critical piece of evidence necessary under the law to make this man pay for his crime was not available to be used against him in court.
The key-investigating officer, who upon interviewing the accused, got a confession that he discharged his weapon that was later found to be the weapon that claimed the life of little Janice, is not available to give evidence as a witness in court, as he is away and it is uncertain as to whether or not he will ever return home.
This sequence of events surrounding the killing of little Janice and the process of seeking justice for her has got to be of some concern for the democrat in this country that works assiduously to preserve our democratic freedoms and rights, not least of all our right to life.
The concern must be triggered by how suspicious the entire thing appears. Once again questions are raised about the competence of the office of the DPP in acting in the interest of justice. Questions are also raised as to the will of the Jamaican government to rein in corruption and unlawful behaviour. Perhaps most importantly, questions are raised as to the will of Jamaican people to ensure that the government respects the rights and freedoms of the Jamaican people, given them by the constitution.
Interestingly, the history of the Jamaican people tells of our love affair with democracy and our disapproval of undemocratic rule.
I am, etc.,
MERRICK RICARDO WATSON
merrickwatson@yahoo.co.uk
