Accused child killer remanded

CLARK'S TOWN, Trelawny — Marvia Patterson, the woman charged with murder for the beheading of four-year-old Natasha Brown last week, was remanded into custody when she appeared in the Clark's Town Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Accused child Murderer Marvia Patterson being escorted by Police officers from the Clarks Town RM Court

Patterson, 42, a labourer of Duanvale in the parish, is booked to reappear in court on August 2.

The matter was scheduled for the Falmouth Resident Magistrate's Court but was moved to Clark's Town at the "last minute", after the police reportedly received information that persons were planning to attack the accused, the Jamaica Observer learned.

But the transfer of the case to the sugar cane belt of Clark's Town did not prevent scores of persons from gathering in the precincts of the courthouse, which adjoins the Clark's Town Police Station. There, the boisterous crowd, under the watchful eyes of a large contingent of lawmen, hurled abuses and threats at Patterson.

"Let her out mek wi beat her; she is wicked; she is eating taxpayers' money," said an irate member of the crowd, when Patterson arrived in an unmarked grey Toyota Carolla motor car in the courtyard, under tight security.

Clad in an orange dress, white cap, black slippers and sporting a striped sweater, Patterson remained calm in court, and showed no remorse when the allegations against her were read.

In fact, her pleasant demeanour was in stark contrast to the scores of irate persons who had waited patiently outside the courthouse for her arrival.

The court was told that on the morning of May 28 about 8:30, Natasha's mother, Mervilyn Graham, accompanied her daughter a little distance from the Duanvale Basic School -- which she attended -- and returned home, hoping that the child would make it on her own to school.

But Natasha did not make it to school that morning, the court was told.

It is alleged that Patterson, who was later seen talking to the child and holding her hands, took her to bushes in Farkland and severed her head from the body.

It is further alleged that she then placed the head in a black scandal bag which she took to Faith Avenue in the farming community of Duanvale, a few metres from where she resides, and threw it into a sinkhole.

Hours later that day, Patterson was held by the police in the Falkland area and taken into custody.

The following morning Natasha's head and body were retrieved from the sinkhole.

And last Saturday, the chopper believed to be the murder weapon was also retrieved from the sinkhole.

The court was also told that Patterson reportedly told investigators that Graham was destroying the relationship she had with Natasha's father, adding that the father was not supporting the child she had borne for him.

The August 2 date was set by Resident Magistrate Icolyn Reid, after it was revealed that the case file on the matter was incomplete.

Patterson is being represented by attorney Winston Douglas.

Meanwhile, Margaret Riley Morrison, who told reporters that she is a relative of Graham, said family members have been trying their best to cope with the brutal murder of Natasha.

"The family has been getting counselling and prayers from a number of church members and friends, so although it is rough we are trying our best to cope," said Riley Morrrison.

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Three men shot dead in Seaview Gardens

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Three men are reported dead in a shooting incident at Seaview Gardens in Kingston at about 8:30 pm Friday.

Information surrounding the shooting is unconfirmed at this time however early reports are that the killings resulted from a gang-related feud in the community.

More information later.

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'Spare the rod, spoil the child' - Falmouth mayor calls for resumption of corporal punishment in schools

WESTERN BUREAU:

Mayor of Falmouth and Chairman of the Trelawny Parish Council, Garth Wilkinson, is calling for a resumption of corporal punishment in Jamaican schools.
According to Wilkinson, the Ministry of Education made a grave error when it suspended corporal punishment in schools.
"We have reached the stage where we have made the major mistake of saying no more flogging in schools. No longer can a teacher correct our children. It is a sad day when we can no longer punish our children. I am one of them that say no to sparing the rod and spoiling the child," Wilkinson said.

Mayor of Falmouth: Garth Wilkinson

The mayor made his comments during his address at the Kiwanis Club of New Falmouth's Family Forum held at the council's chambers last week Thursday.
He said it was painful that Jamaica had reached the stage where practices from other countries were adopted for use in Jamaica despite the fact that sometimes they did not apply to the local situation. He said corporal punishment, which was used in the past, was effective in curbing unruly behavior.
"We have adopted principles and qualities from other countries, which have built prisons where 70 per cent of the persons in prison are people looking like you and me. Why is it that we are taking things from other countries and just throwing them down on our country when they are not relevant to us? We must stop this practice," Wilkinson said.
The Falmouth mayor said the country had failed to effectively parent children as statistics painted a grim picture, placing children at the heart of the crimes which are being committed across the country.
"The simple fact is that 40 per cent of the crimes committed are by youth 13 to 18 years old, which means that we are failing in our ability to raise children. We, therefore, need to be the eyes and ears for the parents as all persons who children meet with have an influence on them," he said.
Wilkinson said children who were ignored today could become "assassins of the future", while those who were nurtured and guided would contribute to areas vital to national development. He added that children were vulnerable to the influence of various people in the society, including entertainers, who become role models for them.
"We cannot surrender to the secular artistes to teach them the way of youth - to be young and restless for all the days of their lives. God said train up a child in the way he should go, and we must take this as a serious responsibility," he said.

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Kartel trial for November

Adijah Vybz Kartel Palmer

THE TRIAL of dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel and the five other men charged jointly with him for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams is to start in the Home Circuit Court on November 18.
Williams was allegedly beaten to death on August 16, 2011, over the disappearance of an illegal gun.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, along with fellow entertainer Shawn Campbell, popularly known as Shawn Storm, fashion designer Calvin Haye, André St John, carpenter Shane Williams and Kahira Jones are accused of murdering Williams at Kartel's home in Havendale, St Andrew.
Yesterday, attorney-at-law Michael Lorne, who is representing Campbell, made another bail application for him.
Justice Sarah Thompson James said she saw no change of circumstances to warrant granting him bail.
Attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson, who is representing Kartel, in commenting on the long delay in having a trial and the outstanding issues of disclosure, had asked the prosecution to do the right thing and ask the judge to grant Kartel bail.
Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jeremy Taylor, in opposing bail, referred to the seriousness of the offence in respect to both Kartel and Campbell.
Taylor said in respect to Tavares-Finson's suggestion, he was not opposing bail for 23-year-old Shane Williams.
Attorney-at-law Tamika Harris, who is representing Williams, asked the judge to be lenient with the amount being offered for bail.
The judge then offered Williams bail in the sum of $500,000 with one to five sureties. He is to report to the Waterford Police Station every day and must be home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Calvin Haye is on bail and his bail was extended.
Bail application will be made in chambers later this month for the other accused men, including Kartel.
WITNESS ALLEGEDLY CONTACTED
Taylor, in refusing the request from Tavares-Finson for the prosecution to ask the judge to grant Kartel bail, had referred to allegations that from August 2011, after Williams was murdered, attempts were made by Kartel to get the witness to leave the island, and up to now, the witness' passport was not returned.
Taylor also told the court that up to January this year, attempts were allegedly made from behind bars to pay off the witness with $3 million, and the telephone conversation was witnessed by a senior police officer.
Taylor said the Crown was suggesting that entertainment was not the only business for Kartel, but there was some kind of trade or trafficking in weapons and it was out of that Williams lost his life. He said that sections of the house were burnt after the incident, but representatives from the forensic laboratory found what appeared to be human blood in a section of the house.
Kartel is facing another murder charge for which he has been granted bail.

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US$1 = J$100! - J$ plunges to lowest value ever

The Sliding Jamaican dollar - record $100.08 to 1USD

THE Jamaican dollar plunged to its lowest value ever yesterday, trading at an average $100.08 to its US counterpart, a development that is in keeping with a recommendation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Last month, the IMF, in its Country Report on Jamaica, said that despite a recent depreciation in the value of the Jamaican dollar, the currency was overvalued and further depreciation was needed.

"The recent nominal exchange rate depreciation has been useful, by reversing part of the overvaluation of the real exchange rate that has emerged in recent years, thus supporting price competitiveness," the IMF said.

"Looking forward, and given the need to address the remaining overvaluation, structural reforms are expected to help in restoring external competitiveness, alongside exchange rate flexibility," the fund added.

Early last month Jamaica signed off on a funding arrangement with the IMF that will see the island receiving near US$2 billion in loans over the next four years from the IMF, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank under an Extended Fund Facility.

In its country report, the IMF said that there may still be a need, at times, for interventions in the foreign exchange market aimed at avoiding disorderly short-run movements. "In this context, the programme contains clear reserve targets to safeguard the adequacy of reserve coverage — a key policy priority under the programme," the Fund said.

Since the end of April this year, the Jamaica dollar had been experiencing slight fluctuations in value in the region of J$99 to US$1. It traded at an average J$99.93 to US$1 on Thursday before losing 15 cents yesterday to cross the symbolic $100 threshold.

Yesterday, the Canadian dollar gained 81 cents to trade at J$97.90, while the British pound traded at J$155.44, up 56 cents.

Jamaica's decision to decimalise its currency took effect on September 8, 1969 and saw new coins and banknotes replacing the pound, which was circulated for decades as a mixture of British currency and local issues and was always equal to the British pound.

At the time of its introduction, the Jamaican dollar was stronger than the US dollar, valued at J$0.77 to US$1.

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Students watch principal have sex - Office romance busted

A small community in Manchester has been buzzing with claims that a principal of a primary school was watched by students, as he had sex with a female teacher in his office.
Information reaching THE WEEKEND STAR is that a few days ago a student went to the headmaster's office and knocked repeatedly to no avail. He is said to have listened for an answer but heard strange sounds like people having sex.
The child is said to have informed other kids and a staff member and the group reportedly took turns peeping in on the alleged romance.
When our news team visited the community recently, the incident was the talk of the town.
An elderly resident said: "Him (the principal) did hungry. Him shouldn't do it when everybody deh deh. But them can't kill him for that cause him come turn the school around. I believe is because him young and feel fit."
Another resident added: "Yea man, a real thing. A so mi hear di pickney dem a talk yesterday enuh, mi couldn't believe. Principal nuh easy. Mi nephew inna grade three and tell mi say principal and teacher lock up inna room a sex."
Two grade-two students spoke cautiously about the incident. One said: "Mi nuh see but him see (referring to his friend). Him can tell yu everything weh dem did a do".
His friend in turn said: "Mi see but mi nah tell yuh cause a our private business. Mi gone back a school."
A fifth-grade student, however, approached THE WEEKEND STAR at a shop and asked: "Excuse mi, Sir, a di principal unuh come investigate? Mi know enuh. Him and di guidance counsellor lock up inna him office a do dem thing. Dem a have sex in deh, so di pickney dem nuh watch dem. Di guidance counsellor sexy enuh and full of shape and ting".
Our news team was told that the female teacher is in her 20s, and is known to dress 'hot' and enjoys flirting with males.
The principal, however, told a news team which visited the school that he was hearing about the incident for the first time. "I'm not guilty to anything, rumours will always spread," he said, adding that "any negativity that exists to pull down the school, won't work."

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Cabinet approves new policy for pregnant schoolgirls

CABINET has signed off on a new policy that advocates for the mandatory re-integration of all school-aged mothers into the formal school system.

The policy takes effect this September.

Education Minister Ronald Thwaites last month tabled a Ministry Paper in the Lower House, indicating that the policy paper had been submitted to the Cabinet for approval. At the time, he said the measure would help Jamaica fulfil international policy and development aims contained in the Millennium Development Goals, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The issue was raised in Parliament in February by Opposition Senator Kamina Johnson Smith when she sought to have the Education Act amended to change the regulations requiring automatic expulsion of pregnant girls from the public school system.

Senator Sandrea Falconer, the minister in charge of information, told yesterday's Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston that the approved policy will clear up existing misconceptions.

"The education regulations provide that a girl who becomes pregnant shall leave the formal school system during the period of her pregnancy. The minister of education has the discretion to facilitate the re-entry of such girls into educational institutions," said Falconer.

However, she said the converse existed.

"No policy framework existed for the exercise of this discretion. Instead, at times, schools have misinterpreted the provision and treated the girls as absent from the school permanently. The schools will now be advised and places temporarily vacated by a student during her pregnancy should be retained for the student's return to school following the completion of an approved transitional programme," Falconer told reporters.

She added that the policy would provide the same flexibility to students wishing to attend a different school after the birth of their child.

In the meantime, a preventative message, designed to reduce teenage births, will be a critical component of the policy while prevention messages will be integrated into the school-based and national adolescent sexual and reproductive health and family programmes which target potential teenaged fathers.

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Retired DCP Jevene Bent

Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent is tipped to assume the position of commissioner of corrections.

Gleaner sources revealed yesterday that Bent, who retired last month as the first female deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), is set to take up the position currently held by Lieutenant Colonel Sean Prendergast.

Prendergast is to demit office at the end of the month to go on pre-retirement leave from the Jamaica Defence Force after serving a three-year stint at the Department of Corrections.
Prendergast succeeded June Spence-Jarrett in the wake of the damning findings of a commission of enquiry into the Armadale tragedy three years ago.

When contacted by The Gleaner about the appointment, Bent said: "I can't respond to that."
Last night, National Security Minister Peter Bunting noted that such appointments are made by the Public Service Commission and not the political directorate.

If confirmed,Bent's appointment would coincide with heightened public interest in the treatment of youths under state care in the aftermath of the suicide of a ward of the state as well as mounting concerns over their placement and treatment by members of the correctional services who have direct responsibility for their care.

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Downtown Kingston vendors protest

ANGRY vendors in downtown Kingston yesterday staged a demonstration on Orange Street to protest against what they described as the unfair treatment being meted out to them by the police.

The vendors claimed they have become targets by the police who have intensified operations to remove vendors from the sidewalks of the commercial district.

"The police them a treat us unfairly; they take away our carts and goods and we don't get them back [and] at times when our goods are returned they are damaged or the quantity is less," one vendor told the Jamaica Observer.

Some of the vendors shouted at the police while bearing placards, some of which read: 'Where is the prime minister'; 'School fees and bills need to be paid'.

One vendor, Cornelia McDonald, who has been selling in downtown Kingston for more than a decade, described her experience with police officers as tormenting and abusive.

"Them a seize our goods, dash them away and we are being locked up, fined and required to pay up to $11,000 for their return sometimes," McDonald said.

"Me get beaten from police four weeks ago. Them beat me up and pepper spray me, then took me to the police station. After I was released my handbag with my money, keys and documents were missing and none of them could give an account. Even though this happens we are still being charged", McDonald further stated.

She said that while she understands the effort the police were making to remove vendors from the streets, the market to which they have been being directed does not have enough space.

"It's graduation time now and they are seizing our goods, how we children a go manage, they are stopping our job and a our 'pickney' a go feel it," said McDonald.

One female vendor claimed that she was told to become a prostitute to earn money when she asked the police about an alternative job when her goods were seized. "They said you affi go work a New Kingston (to sell body) if you can't make a profit anyway else," she said.

Nehemiah Henry, a vendor for over three decades, vowed to keep up the protes

t until better provisions have been made for he and his colleagues, saying vending was his only source of income.

"I will protest for the entire week if I have to, there is no other way of getting money. I don't rob or kill people, this is my honest bread and now I'm being hindered from earning it. There are no systems or provisions in place for us to go to the market...," said Henry.

The angry vendors said that in the current economic situation it was difficult to progress and that the clampdown by the police could lead to violence, adding that their cry for a better system has fallen on deaf ears. One vendor said the city's mayor has been silent on the matter and vowed that their frustration would be reflected on the ballot paper in the next election as they have lost hope.

"We will not vote again, especially for the mayor, as she has done nothing for our support," said one angry vendor.

The Kingston and St Andrew Corporation is now controlled by the People's National Party and led by Mayor Angela Brown Burke.

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Hoodlums rob Usain Bolt's dad

FALMOUTH, Trelawny -- Wellesly Bolt, the father of sprinting legend Usain Bolt was reportedly robbed in Falmouth this morning of cash amount to over $400,OOO.

According to the elder Bolt, the money was stolen from his Toyota pick-up truck which was parked in the vicinity of the Falmouth Municipal Market at about 10:00am.

He told the Jamaica Observer that the money was stolen minutes after he left a commercial bank.

" Someone apparently was trailing me," he said, adding that the robber gained entry to the vehicle by breaking the window on the driver's side of the vehicle.

The matter has been reported to the Falmouth Police.

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A 21-year-old man is dead after being fatally shot during a confrontation with police.

A 21-year-old man is dead after being fatally shot during a confrontation with police.

Dead is 21-year-old Jevon Reid of a Granville, Trelawny address.

Police reports are that Reid was fatally shot and a firearm seized during a confrontation with police officers attached to the Trelawny division in Granville, Trelawny last night.

One homemade firearm and one 9 mm round was seized during the incident.

The matter has been reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM)

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ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Police this morning shot and killed three men during an operation in St Catherine. Head of St Catherine North Police Division Anthony Castell in confirming the report told the Observer that two firearms including a rifle were also ceased in the incident, which took place in the community of Waterloo.

The names of the men killed have not yet been released.

Details will be provided later.

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Stabbed to death

A man who attempted to quash a fight between two women in Sandy Bay, Hanover last Saturday night was stabbed to death.

Dead is 32 years old Damion Bowen, a welder of Montpelier Road, Sandy Bay.

 Reports are that about 10:30pm Bowen's common-law-wife and another woman were among a group of persons standing along Montpelier Road, when an argument developed between them.

An eyewitness reported that the dispute started when both women began exchanging harsh words, after Bowen's 26 years old accused the other of being a lesbian. The argument escalated into a physical confrontation and knives were drawn.

Bowen's girlfriend was reportedly stabbed ten times with a ratchet knife. Bowen who was reportedly close by heard the commotion and went to investigate. he intervened and was stabbed multiple times.

The two were rushed to the Hospital where Bowen was pronounced dead and his common-law-wife admitted. Their attacker reportedly of a Church Lane address who left the scene later turned up at the station, and is being expected to be charged later this week.

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Gunmen kill two in Greater Portmore

A fight for control of turf in the middle-income community of 5 East in Greater Portmore, St Catherine, has been blamed by residents for the brutal daylight murders of two men yesterday. The dead men have been identified as 24-year-old Kevin Mussington, also called 'Super', and the other only by his dancehall alias 'Bentley'.

24 years old Kevin Mussington

Police report that about 11:00 am the two men and others were sitting under a tree when two armed men approached them and started shooting wildly. The group scampered for cover and when the shooting stopped, Mussington and Bentley were found bleeding profusely while lying face down on a pathway in the community. They were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Mussington was a janitor at Hi-Tech Chemicals in Kingston and had just returned home from his night shift duty and was pulling out his corn rows when the attack occurred. "Him was pulling out him hair and the two man walk up and stand up for a little while before one of the youths bawl out 'run' and them start run. The man dem start shoot up the place. The two of them got shot from behind," one obviously shaken resident told the Jamaica Observer. Mussington was shot in the back of the head while 'Bentley' suffered from multiple gunshot wounds.

The residents claim that the killers live in the community and have been making moves to establish a 'donman' rule. Their moves have been resisted by some persons in 5 East who are determined not to allow the criminal element to have them under their heel. "All of us have lived here since here was bush. We have worked hard to buy our homes and now these young, worthless criminals want to dictate to us how to live our lives. That is why they came and killed those two young men this morning. But we will not relent to the heartless beasts," one resident said.

Another resident said one of the killers, who was dressed in a pink plaid shirt, calmly walked to a section of the community after the shooting, made a phone call and was greeted by two men before walking to a nearby bus stop at East Mid Street. "Him shouldn't kill 'Super' cause him know seh the youth not involved in any vibes with them. Him just trying to prove seh him wicked, but him time soon come," another resident said. 'Bentley' was a budding dancehall singer who was also in the wrong place at the wrong time. "None of them deserved to die like that. It was wicked act," the resident added. Police report that this is the fourth murder in 5 East in recent times

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Mysterious fire razes St Elizabeth 'haunted house'

SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — After weeks of mysterious burnings and reports of people being hit with stones thrown by "invisible" hands, a pur-ported "haunted house" was destroyed by fire at Rose Hall district, in south east St Elizabeth yesterday.

inside d burnt dwell

Haunted house razed by fire

 

Reports pieced together from residents and firemen at the Junction Fire Station said the fire started shortly before midday and quickly engulfed the five-apartment building. Distraught householders said they lost "everything". The fire department esti-mated the total loss at around $15 million. Family members, who yesterday steadfastly insisted that their names be kept out of news reports, confirmed that the house was not insured. The Junction police confirmed late yesterday that they were investigating the incident.

A 42-year-old daughter of the householders said any material assistance would be welcomed "because the house burn down and we lose everything". Fire personnel said that on their arrival the house was already "engulfed". They were able to save an old building, almost adjoining, described by relatives and neighbours as an "old outside kitchen". Firemen described the cause of the fire as "unknown". But family members and neighbours were in no doubt that it was merely a continuation of the mysterious happenings occurring sporadically since April 20. They claim several people have been hit with stones and small fires had, on occasion, destroyed furniture, including mattresses and settee chairs. They insist that the cause is "not natural" and is "duppy business". The daughter told the Jamaica Observer that in the latest incident, family members found themselves being hit by stones on occasions Monday night to early Tuesday morning. It was as if the stones were "coming out of the ceiling", she said. She showed this reporter bruises on her neck and arms as evidence of being hit. She claimed they left the house yesterday, with some family members hoping to go to the doctor only to hear that the house was on fire. "Pure fire mi see a bun ... the whole of the top of the house pure fire," a neighbour, who claimed to have been early on the scene, said.

 When the Observer team arrived in mid-afternoon, only the blackened walls of the burnt-out house remained with scores of people from surrounding communities visiting to see for themselves. Twisted metal in what was said to be the kitchen was identified by neighbours as the remains of appliances, including fridge and stove. Saddest of all, perhaps, were the remains of school books burnt to cinder.

The daughter who spoke to the Observer, angrily rejected allegations that family members had been involved in demonism and spiritualism of any form. "We not in no de Laurence business, we don't deal inna obeah, we don't know anything bout dem thing deh... I have to work too hard to tek my money give obeah man," she said. "If we did owe de Laurence money, wi nuh woulda pay it back long time from the first stone dem start throw? But wi don't know who to go to because wi don't owe nobody and wi don't do nobody nuttin," she said. Her constant puzzled refrain was "we want to know what cause this?" She asked this reporter: "In all your experience, you have any idea what could cause this?" She got no answers. She confirmed that her 70-year-old mother had been taken to the doctor. "She suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, and all this is too much," she said.

The daughter said that after initially dismissing reports that "duppies" (ghosts) were involved, she changed her opinion weeks ago, when she saw a window on fire with no obvious source. "Mi see it fi myself," she said.

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