JLP politician on murder rap

KARYL WALKER, Crime/Court co-ordinator walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, September 25, 2008

Police will today interrogate Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) politician Lennox Hinds, who was on Tuesday arrested and slapped with murder, conspiracy and shooting charges.

Hinds, who unsuccessfully contested the Edgewater Division in Portmore, St Catherine in last December's parish council elections, was arrested at his Portmore home during an operation by officers from the Major Investigation Task Force and the Flying Squad.

Hinds has been charged with murder, conspiracy to murder and two counts of shooting with intent. His attorneys are expected to sit in on today's question and answer session.

Yesterday, police were tight-lipped about the details of the alleged murder, but a source told the Observer that the investigation is centred around a shooting death in the community of Portsmouth during the December 2007 parish council election campaign.

Hinds lost his battle for a parish council seat to the People's National Party's Alrick Campbell during those elections.