Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
Placard-bearing residents gather along the Golden Spring main road in St. Andrew yesterday to protest the killing of Damion Hussey, who was allegedly attacked by supporters of the governing People's National Party on Sunday night. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
POLICE HAVE held two persons in connection with the murder of Damion Hussey who was killed, allegedly, by a group of People's National Party (PNP) supporters Sunday night.
Hussey's murder was part of the chaos which erupted along the Golden Spring main road in St. Andrew, as a number of alleged PNP supporters went on a rampage in the area. At least two others were injured in the fracas.
STONE-THROWING
The party supporters were reportedly on their way back from the campaign launch of PNP presidential candidate, Dr. Peter Phillips.
According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, four buses packed with PNP supporters were travelling along the Golden Spring main road about 8:30 p.m. Someone reportedly threw a rock at one of the buses and all four vehicles stopped. About 50 angry passengers got off the buses and started shouting at persons who were standing along the roadway. Steve Broderick was one of those persons.
"Mi just stop to buy ice cream and next thing mi know di man dem rush mi," he said yesterday, when The Gleaner visited the scene. He had a wide wound above his right eye.
Mr. Broderick said the men attacked him with bricks and pieces of metal. He, however, managed to fight off his attackers and ran away.
The mob then reportedly approached a nearby house.
Inside the house, the 22-year-old Mr. Hussey was having dinner. He heard the commotion outside and went to investigate. According to his girlfriend, Mr. Hussey, with a plate of food still in his hand, asked: "What's happening?" Someone shouted: "Him a one a dem too," and the crowd ran after Mr. Hussey who retreated into his bedroom.
His girlfriend was in the bedroom when Mr. Hussey came back in. "When him come in, the man dem break down the door and pull him back outside," she said, fighting back tears.
Police say the men stabbed, chopped and beat Mr. Hussey and left him for dead by the side of the road. He later died in hospital.
Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday Mr. Hussey's aunt said: "I am only visiting from England and now this has happened. This is what politics has done to Jamaica. I wanted to build up a house and move back here, but if this is what life is like, then I can't." (pull out)
Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Neville Knight, of the St. Andrew North police division, who knew Mr. Hussey personally said: "I have known him for seven years and never once heard that he was mixed up in anything. It really is sad."
Residents of the area, upset about the killing, blocked the Golden Spring main road before 5:00 o'clock yesterday morning. They also claimed the policemen who responded to the call about Sunday night's incident got into an altercation with residents and badly beat two men.
DSP Knight said a man was taken into custody for attempting to steal a policeman's watch, but noted that he could not comment on the alleged police beating until investigations were carried out. He urged residents with information on both incidents to tell all they know to the police as, according to him, that is the only way justice will be served.
Meanwhile Dr. Phillips' campaign team issued a statement yesterday, condemning the incident.
"Violence of this sort goes against the message that was reiterated by our candidate in his address (at the campaign launch), that urged the return of the values of decency, respect for life, law and order and peaceful resolution to disputes," the statement said.
Member of Parliament for the area, Andrew Gallimore, called on Dr. Phillips to have the incident thoroughly investigated. "It's the only way we can get ordinary Jamaicans to believe that there is some respect for law in this country and that it is not a free for all," he said.
In the meantime, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) issued a statement calling on the Prime Minister to "exert authority and influence to restrain his party's supporters from excessive behaviour and even violence generated by the intensity of the contest to choose his successor".
