A pool of blood remains on the dining room floor after the lifeless body of Gwendolyn Suckra, 81, was removed from her home in Westmoreland. - Photo by Dalton Laing

FROME, Westmoreland: The Frome police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the brutal slaying of 81-year-old Gwendolyn Suckra Wednesday afternoon at her home in Barham, Westmoreland.

The police say Suckra was at home with her grandson about 4:00p.m. when the youngster left for a nearby shop. On his return about five minutes later he found his grandmother lying face down in the dining room in a pool of blood. She sustained injuries from a blunt object to the back of her head and left side of her face. She was taken to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

- Dalton Laing

SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth

Project manager of the Jamaica Justice System Reform, Peter Parchment, says the justice system in Jamaica is currently in crisis and that there has to be urgent reform to the processes in order for us to see improvements.

He was speaking at a justice reform forum hosted by the St. Elizabeth Parish Development Committee (PDC) at the St. Matthews Anglican Church hall in Santa Cruz recently.

Mr. Parchment told the audience it was important that members of the public, as well as key justice system stakeholders, work together to reform the system.

- Rayon Dyer

MONTEGO BAY, St James

Secondary learning institutions across Jamaica are being challenged to be in a state of readiness to embrace the Ministry of Education and Youth's e-Learning project, which is currently in its first phase of implementation.

Dr. Jean Beaumont, chairman of e-Learning Jamaica, made the call during her presentation on day two of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) conference at Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Montego Bay Thursday.

"There is no distinction between schools, it will be one level playing field," she said. "Therefore, I am advising all the high schools; throughout Jamaica to prepare themselves because those that are not ready, will be left behind."

- Western Bureau

MONTEGO BAY, St James

Firefighters in Montego Bay have received commendations for saving goods and property valued at an estimated $300 million at the Harbour Street Craft Market, which was razed by fire on Wednesday night.

The fire gutted three shops and resulted in minor damage to seven others, leaving an estimated $10 million in losses.

"The firefighters must be praised; they were very quick on the scene. All the time we give them bad name (but) this time them deserve credit," an eyewitness told The Gleaner at the scene.

- Western Bureau

LACOVIA, St Elizabeth

A man who was involved in an argument with another man was stabbed to death in St. Elizabeth Thursday night and the other was taken into custody at the Santa Cruz police lock-up.

Dead is 42-year-old Collin Edwards, unemployed, of Pepper district in the parish, while in custody is Patrick Huie, also unemployed, of the same district.

The Santa Cruz police reported that, about 10:00 p.m., the men, whom residents say had a long-standing feud, had a heated argument at a shop at Goshen District. A knife was brought into play which Huie allegedly used to stab Edwards in the region of his chest and abdomen.

- Michael McLean

EWARTON, ST Catherine

The killing of a senior citizen in the Ewarton area of St. Catherine has caused great distress for the community.

Dead is Raphael Ford, 69-year-old shopkeeper of Waterloo in Ewarton, St Catherine.

Reports from the police are that a car with men drove up to Mr. Ford's shop about 1:00 p.m. and ordered goods. As the senior citizen attempted to serve them, two of the three men pulled hand guns and shot him several times.

He died on the spot. The St. Catherine North Homicide team is conducting investigations into the killing, which was the latest in a series of murders in the division since the start of the year. There have been 37 so far.

- Rasbert Turner

LLUIDAS VALE, St Catherine

As part of their community outreach mandate, the Kiwanis Club of Linstead recently presented Daveanna-Kay Granville, a 19-year-old sixth form student of McGrath High School in St. Catherine, with a wheelchair.

Daveanna, who is paralysed from the waist down, was involved in a motor vehicle accident along the Bog Walk gorge last year when the car in which she was travelling was crushed by a truck.

The presentation was made by the club's president, Lorice Mighty, at a devotional exercise at the school recently. On hand to witness the event were her parents, Carlton and Dian Granville, along with the teachers and student body.

- Elgin Taylor