SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
THE ONENESS Apostolic Assembly of Jesus Christ in Sydenham, St. Catherine was transformed into a sea of black and white as hundreds of colleagues, friends and well-wishers paid their last respects to slain police constable Michael Francis.
Among those attending Saturday's funeral service were Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, Commissioner of Corrections Major Richard Reese and Portmore's Mayor George Lee.
In an address to the packed church, Police Federation Chairman Corporal Raymond Wilson called for the resumption of hanging.
He said that killing has become attractive to criminal elements who prey upon the police daily. He said it is the opportune time for the government to wake up and not be intimidated by human rights groups.
In his eulogy, Inspector Karl Malcolm said that the late Constable Francis was a young man who will be greatly missed and will find it hard to replace him.
Constable Francis was killed in the line of duty on March 13 and was interred in the Dovecot Memorial Park, St. Catherine.
He had served in the Correctional Services prior to being enlisted in the Jamaica Constabulary Force in 1997. He is survived by his wife and four children.
R. T.
