IN JAMAICA: Nine listed as ‘persons-of-interest’ surrender to West Kingston police......Andrew Coke, otherwise called ‘Livity’, Kirk Stephenson, otherwise called ‘Titus’ , Alex Omar Johnson, otherwise called ‘Singer J’, Michael Coke, otherwise called ‘Titty Man’, Lanchester Coke, otherwise called ‘Bomber’ ,Kemar Cole o/c Flex Devon Brown, Ricardo Medley o/c King Gratino Green

Tuesday, April 08, 2014 | 8:53 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Nine ‘persons-of-interest’ wanted for questioning in connection with the deadly feud in West Kingston turned themselves over to the police Tuesday afternoon.

SSP Steve McGregor

Head of the Division, Senior Superintendent of Police Steve McGregor said some of the individuals surrendered to the police along with their attorneys while others were accompanied by family members.
The nine are:
Andrew Coke, otherwise called ‘Livity’
Kirk Stephenson, otherwise called ‘Titus’
Alex Omar Johnson, otherwise called ‘Singer J’
Michael Coke, otherwise called ‘Titty Man’
Lanchester Coke, otherwise called ‘Bomber’
Kemar Cole o/c Flex
Devon Brown
Ricardo Medley o/c King
Gratino Green
"These persons turned themselves in earlier today (Tuesday, April 8) and arrangements are now being made for them to be questioned in the presence of their attorneys," SSP McGregor told OBSERVER ONLINE.
Police also confirmed that the only female suspect on the list, Deborah Golding, otherwise called ‘Foxy Brown’, has been questioned and released. Investigators report that four others on the police list remain on the run.
They are: Shamal White, otherwise called ‘Gov’ or ‘Omar White’; Dillon Lobban, otherwise called ‘Kaka’; Javaein Coke, otherwise called ‘Ticko’; and Andrew Coke Jr, otherwise called ‘Poclerles’.
Kimmo Matthews

 

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Jay Z Sparks Controversy With Five Percent Nation Bling Medallion....sparking outrage and general confusion about whether reverse racism is a thing (spoiler: it definitely isn't).

During a recent Knicks game at the Barclays Center, Jay Z sported a Five Percent Nation medallion, sparking outrage and general confusion about whether reverse racism is a thing (spoiler: it definitely isn't). The impractically-sized necklace is a symbol for the group, which was founded in 1963 by Clarence 13 X, when he broke from the Nation Of Islam.

Although there are no direct comments about white people in the tenets of Five Percent Nation, their public perception is certainly affiliated with not really loving white folks or, as Michael Muhammad Knight explained in an essay for Vice, "The first lesson I learned from the Five Percent was simple: F--k white people. Seriously. White people are devils."

As NPR explained in a 2006 article on the group, the founding concept is that "Ten percent of the people of the world know the truth of existence, and those elites opt to keep 85 percent of the world in ignorance and under their controlling thumb." Other essential ideas include the belief that "black people are the original people of the planet Earth" and "the fathers and mothers of civilization."

This is not the first time Jay Z has worn the eight-pointed star with the number seven in the middle. The Christian Post reports that he wore the symbol while promoting "Magna Carta Holy Grail." It has also been noted that the phrase "Peace God" in "Run This Town" is likely a nod to Five Percenters. more

DUMB CRIMINAL: 37 y-o Evelyn Hamilton Allegedly Calls Cops To Complain About Weed Quality....Hamilton said Monday she spent $40 on "seeds and residue."

LUFKIN, Texas (AP) — Police in East Texas have arrested a woman after she called them to complain about the quality of the marijuana she had purchased from a dealer.

Lufkin police Sgt. David Casper said Monday that an officer went to the home of 37-year-old Evelyn Hamilton to hear her complaint that the dealer refused to return her money after she objected that the drug was substandard.

Casper says she pulled the small amount of marijuana from her bra when the officer asked if she still had it. She was arrested Friday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hamilton said Monday she spent $40 on "seeds and residue." She says she called police when she got no satisfaction from the dealer's family.

'How about demonstrating against the killers?' JAMAICA Observer online readers are largely in support of West Kingston Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie for his stance against criminals in the troubled constituency..... online comment "I find the level of ignorance in these communities astounding"

A T-Shirt bearing the image of West
 Kingston MP Desmond McKenzie burns on
Sunday. (PHOTO: MICHAEL GORDON)

JAMAICA Observer online readers are largely in support of West Kingston Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie for his stance against criminals in the troubled constituency. On Sunday, a handful of residents burned T-Shirts with McKenzie's image and gave him a 48-hour ultimatum to leave the constituency. Their action followed McKenzie's call on Saturday for the police to bring the criminals responsible for a fresh round of shootings in the constituency late Friday, which left two people dead and at least 10 others nursing injuries. Here are some edited comments:

Lucea Hanover

'Something is rotten in the country of Jamaica'.

mcintash

I find the level of ignorance in these communities astounding. They are burning a T-shirt of the member of Parliament because he supposedly "took sides". Shouldnt they be venting their anger at the killers and murderers in their communities? Surely they know who these people are. Why don't they provide the police with the information.

Dane mcintash

Don't forget this: they accuse the MP for taking sides, yet they're painting "PNP" all over the place. Isn't that, you know, taking sides? Plus, do they really think the PNP will do better? Ha!

Meggie Dane

Don't forget there are PNP voters in the constituency too. Interestingly, except for one man, all the faces were hidden. That demonstration could be a strategy — they probably have to do it for the gunmen.

Ricardo

This is why Jamaica has so much murder in it. We turn our anger at all times in the wrong direction. Desmond didn't killed or order the killing of anyone. He is doing the right think by exposing the wrongdoers. more

WASHINGTON, D.C: Miriam Carey Autopsy > Connecticut Woman Killed In DC Chase Was Shot 5 Times From Behind, Lawyer Says including a shot to the back of the head.....Her 1-year-old daughter was in the car but escaped serious injury.

AP  | by  WILL LESTER Posted: 04/08/2014 5:32 am EDT Updated: 04/08/2014 5:59 am EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The attorney for the family of a Connecticut woman killed by police on Capitol Hill six months ago says her autopsy found she was shot multiple times from behind, including a shot to the back of the head.

Attorney Eric Sanders said on his law firm's website that the autopsy found Miriam Carey was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Carey was shot to death after a car chase that went from the White House to near the U.S. Capitol in October of last year. The report from Sanders said the "Carey family is understandably upset."

Calls to Sanders' office and to the U.S. Capitol Police were not immediately returned late Monday.

Carey, a 34-year-old dental hygienist, tried to ram her car through a White House barrier on Oct. 3 before leading police on a chase that ended with her being killed. Her 1-year-old daughter was in the car but escaped serious injury.

Carey's relatives have challenged law enforcement accounts that she was delusional and raised questions over whether police used an appropriate level of force. Sanders has said he believes officers who shot Carey mishandled the encounter and should be prosecuted.

Carey, who had been diagnosed with postpartum depression and psychosis, told officers who responded to her Stamford, Conn., apartment prior to the Washington incident that President Barack Obama communicated with her and had set up cameras to record her life for national news outlets, police said.

In an interview Monday with the National Journal, Sanders portrayed the autopsy findings as bolstering his theory that Carey's shooting was not justified.

Beautiful, Bountiful Beaches in JAMAICA: renovated Beaches, Ocho Rios (formerly known as Beaches Boscobel)..... The resort boasts several new and improved features. These include: themed villages each with their own appropriate restaurants, bars, renovated suites and a new boardwalk.

Di-Andra Brown, Candiece Knight, Gabrielle McDowell  Tuesday, April 08, 2014    

Beautiful, Bountiful Beaches

TeenAGE Observer revelled in a weekend at the recently renovated Beaches, Ocho Rios (formerly known as Beaches Boscobel). For the duration of the stay, the experience at the resort consistently surpassed expectations.

The resort boasts several new and improved features. These include: themed villages each with their own appropriate restaurants, bars, renovated suites and a new boardwalk. Beaches Ocho Rios is also home to Jamaica's largest hotel-operated water park. This ultra-inclusive family resort has undergone a lot of changes to ensure that its customers — from toddlers to adults — have the best experience possible. There is a broad scope of things to do. Lounge by one of the five pools, or build sandcastles on the beach during the day. Treat yourself at the spa and work out in the fully equipped fitness centre. Dine with the family at one of the several restaurants located on site. Perhaps your family would enjoy one of the many land/water sports available. They also host themed events and tours of the island courtesy of Island Routes. The Kids Kamp is the ideal place for tots to pre-teens, given the variety of activities offered that change on a daily basis. Liquid by Beaches also offers teens and pre-teens a place to hang out from 10 pm to 11 pm and for adults from 11 pm to 2 am.

A section of the beach at Beaches

The weekend-filled with food, fun, and adventure. It began with a brief tour of the resort and the rooms, then pizza at Bella Napoli. To our surprise, we happened to arrive just in time for the Sesame Street Beach Party. Characters such as Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Abby Cadabby and Zoe performed for the children, and the young at heart. Throughout the weekend, we savoured meals at The Bayside Restaurant, Josephine's Creperie, Neptune's, Eleanor's and The Venetian. This was paired with visits to Pirates Island Water Park, Trench Town, Xbox game rooms, the spa and the beach. We were also afforded the opportunity to meet a few Sesame Street characters. more

Jamaica-born police chief of Lauderhill, FLORIDA, ANDREW SMALLING, sees big drop in crime Jones Town-born police chief celebrates successes after two years.....has seen an impressive 14 per cent drop in crime, noticeably in violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault involving use of weapons.

BY DESMOND ALLEN Executive Editor -- Special Assignment allend@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, April 08, 2014    

ANDREW Smalling, the trail-blazing Jones Town, Jamaica-born police chief of Lauderhill, Florida, nicknamed Jamaica Hill after its dominant population, is happy with the way crime is trending — downwards — in the third year of his tenure.

Smalling

In the first two years after he swore on his 95-year-old grandmother's Bible to protect the city, Lauderhill has seen an impressive 14

per cent drop in crime, noticeably in violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault involving use of weapons.

Smalling, a well-read policeman who also lectures once a week in Criminal Justice at the Broward College in Florida, was sworn-in for the second time as chief of police in September 2011, 11 years after becoming the first black to be appointed top cop in the neighbouring city of Lauderdale Lakes.

The veteran cop of 28 years may have left Jamaica at age eight, with little memory of the sprawling slums of troubled inner-city Jones Town, Kingston, where he was born 52 years ago. But he is surrounded by Jamaicans in this teeming city of 70,000 people and must deal with the best and the worst of them. More importantly, he seems to be getting the better of the situation.

As he is wont to, Smalling came home last month to celebrate his birthday with his Jamaica-born wife, Pauline, who works as an administrative assistant in the Broward County Sheriff's Office and with the Broward Courthouse.

Smalling doesn't know if his spectacular success in the crime statistics is a suggestion that Jamaicans in Lauderhill want to see another Jamaican do well. But he is happy with the way things are going, he told the Jamaica Observer in an interview. more

IN JAMAICA: Ninja Man's murder trial to go on, says judge of the March 16, 2009 gun murder of Richard Johnson. He is jointly charged with his son Janiel, and another man, Dennis Clayton.

Paul Henry  Tuesday, April 08, 2014    

ENTERTAINER Ninja Man yesterday failed in an attempt to have his murder case thrown out in the Home Circuit Court.

Entertainer Ninja Man (right, foreground) makes a point to
 music promoter Josef Bogdanovich as they arrive at the
Home Circuit Court yesterday in downtown Kingston where
 Ninja Man’s murder case is being heard. In background (right)
 is Ninja Man’s son Janiel, who is jointly charged with
murder. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)

Queen's Counsel KD Knight applied to have the matter adjourned sine die or stayed on the grounds that the constitutional rights of the entertainer, whose real name is Desmond Ballentine, have been breached because of the length of time it has taken to have the case tried.

The matter has been before the court since 2009, the court was told.

In his submission, Knight noted that the case has been set for trial on many occasions and had been postponed because the prosecution could not produce their witnesses.

He said that at no time has the prosecution notified the defence that it would be relying on Section 31D of the Evidence Act to put the statements of the absent witnesses into evidence.

But in his refusal of the application, Justice Lloyd Hibbert said that the criminal court was not the proper forum for an application seeking constitutional redress to be heard. Justice Hibbert said that he would rather have a new trial date set, and if the prosecution, at that point, doesn't have its witnesses a jury is empanelled and a formal verdict of not guilty is returned.

But, yesterday, the prosecution presented its six witnesses and stated its readiness to proceed with the matter. The trial is set to begin on November 10. more

VOODO SAUCE: Dwl this is too funny, funny as hell. Like and Share

Post by Jamaica IS Nice.

NINJAMAN MURDER CASE: The Court Monday morning refused an application by entertainer Desmond ‘Ninja Man’ Ballentine to have his murder case thrown out....Ninja Man returns to court in November

Monday, April 07, 2014 | 11:38 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- The Court Monday morning refused an application by entertainer Desmond ‘Ninja Man’ Ballentine to have his murder case thrown out.

Ninja Man leaving court Monday morning. (Photo:Paul Henry)

Attorney KD Knight representing Ninja Man asked the court Monday to dismiss the case against his client and his two co accused on the grounds that their Constitutional Rights have been breached because of the length of time it's taken to have the case tried.

The matter has been on the trial list since 2009.

Ninja Man will have to return to court on November 10, 2014 for trial.

The entertainer is accused of the March 16, 2009 gun murder of Richard Johnson.

He is jointly charged with his son Janiel, and another man, Dennis Clayton.....

IN JAMAICA: Rage in Tivoli Gardens....Residents burn Desmond McKenzie T-shirts, say they want him out of community.....According to the residents, McKenzie was taking sides in the feud which claimed its latest victims Friday night — 12-year-old Kawayne ‘Timo’ McNuff and 28-year-old Ricardo Lowe — in Denham Town.

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, April 07, 2014

THE ongoing deadly conflict in West Kingston triggered an angry protest yesterday by Tivoli Gardens residents who burnt T-shirts bearing the image of their member of parliament Desmond McKenzie and demanded that he leave the constituency.

Residents burn a green T-shirt with the image
 of Desmond McKenzie in Tivoli Gardens
 yesterday as they accuse the member of
 parliament of taking sides in an ongoing
 feud in West Kingston.
(PHOTOS: MICHAEL GORDON)

According to the residents, McKenzie was taking sides in the feud which claimed its latest victims Friday night — 12-year-old Kawayne ‘Timo’ McNuff and 28-year-old Ricardo Lowe — in Denham Town.

Ten other persons, including Kawayne’s nineyear- old brother, were injured in Friday night’s incident which saw gunmen spraying a group of persons standing at the intersection of Chestnut Lane and Charles Street.

“Desmond McKenzie must go. We are giving him 48 hours to leave the constituency,” shouted one woman.

She was among a group of men, women and children — some wearing orangecoloured clothing in an apparent show of their disfavour with the MP whose Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) uses the colour green.

The ruling People’s National Party’s colour is orange. In addition to torching green T-shirts with McKenzie’s image, the protesters also spray-painted walls in the JLP-controlled community in orange.

“People are dying but the member of parliament is taking sides and that is not fair,” said one man who accused McKenzie of only identifying suspects from Tivoli Gardens and not those from other areas. more

IN JAMAICA : Transport Authority assists Chisholm Basic School with JA$100,000.00 to develop a play area and other facilities for the over 40 children there.

Sunday, April 06, 2014    

CHISHOLM Basic School has received $100,000 from the Transport Authority to develop a play area and other facilities for the over 40 children there.

CHISHOLM Basic School

Speaking at a handing-over ceremony held March 26 at the St Andrew school, Managing Director Donald Foster said the funds were provided from the recent JDV Wellness Festival, where the authority was the overall winner in the competition.

Foster noted that the money will help to make the school compliant with standards set by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).

"The students of the Chisholm Basic School will also benefit from the success of the authority's employees, as the school was selected because it has shown determination in pursuing the vision to foster the mental, physical and all-round development of the children for greater outcomes," Foster said.

Stressing that the authority has invested heavily in ensuring standards in the public transportation system, Foster said its long association with the school is similarly aimed at ensuring adherence to the standards of the early childhood sector, to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

The institution has been the beneficiary of several projects from the authority, including repairs to its roof for Labour Day 2013.

The Transport Authority has, since 1994, assisted other schools in the Maxfield Park community as part of "the goal of fostering and supporting the development of the community's children," Foster stated.

Meanwhile, teacher at the school Beverly McCain said the generosity of the Transport Authority has demonstrated "commitment and belief in the education of our youth for the future of Jamaica".

Flight 370 'MOST PROMISING LEAD' : Malaysia Plane Search, Official Says Ship Detects Possible Transmission

An Australian official overseeing the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane says underwater sounds picked up by equipment on an Australian navy ship are consistent with transmissions from black box recorders on a plane.

Angus Houston, the head of a joint agency coordinating the search in the southern Indian Ocean, calls it "very encouraging." But he said Monday that it may take days to confirm whether signals picked up by the ship Ocean Shield are indeed from the flight recorders on Flight 370.

He says the position of the noise needs to be further refined, and then an underwater autonomous vehicle can be sent in to investigate.

"Clearly, this is a most promising lead. And probably in the search so far, it's probably the best information that we have had," Houston said. "Again, I would ask all of you to treat this information cautiously and responsibly until such time as we can provide an unequivocal determination. We haven't found the aircraft yet; we need the confirmation. And I really stress this; it's very important." The plane vanished on March 8 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing. more

Legendary Actor Mickey Rooney Dead At 93 (VIDEO/PHOTOS)......Born Joe Yule Jr. in Brooklyn, N.Y appeared in more than 300 films and TV programs,died on April 6, Variety reported. Cause of death was not released.

Mikey Rooney

Mickey Rooney, an award-winning actor and Hollywood legend who appeared in more than 300 films and TV programs,died on April 6, Variety reported. Cause of death was not released. He was 93.

Born Joe Yule Jr. in Brooklyn, N.Y.,Rooney was only 17 months old when he took the stage in his parents' vaudeville act. After adopting the stage name of Mickey Rooney at the age of 7, he appeared in his first film, launching a career that would span nearly his entire life.

Rooney was still a teenager when he played Andy Hardy in the 1937 film "A Family Affair." The popular character, as played by Rooney, would appear in 14 more films and make him a top star at the box office. During Hollywood's golden years, the five-foot-three cherubic-faced actor worked with many of the silver screen's greatest leading ladies, including Elizabeth Taylor in "National Velvet," Judy Garland in "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry" and "Babes In Arms" and Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast At Tiffany's." more

PM Portia Simpson-Miller : 'We can't afford to miss the boat!'....Jamaica would be able to declare that we had the fastest man in the world — Asafa Powell, and then yet another even faster, Usain Bolt. We would enjoy the rocket runs of Veronica Campbell Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is intrigued by
the packaging of Buzz Honey Wine while visiting the
EcoFarms booth — which included a beehive

Monday, April 07, 2014 

WE saw Jamaican excellence on show at our National Stadium and National Arena over the past two weeks. It was probably about 2002 that the late Teddy McCook was discussing his favourite topic: The promise of young Jamaican athletes. "If you could see the times these youngsters are doing now, you would get a headache," he told us. In quick succession after that, Jamaica would be able to declare that we had the fastest man in the world — Asafa Powell, and then yet another even faster, Usain Bolt. We would enjoy the rocket runs of Veronica Campbell Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

As we consider some of the records broken at the recent ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships, we see that Jamaica continues to hold her own. Our high school relay teams are the fastest in their age cohort in the world. After Calabar's Javon Francis broke the Class One 400-metre record, set by Usain Bolt 11 years ago, subtracting .35 seconds to take it to 45 seconds, the legendary Bolt himself tweeted: "Jamaica's track future is in good hands... Congrats #JavonFrancis breaking class one 400m record #champs2014 #future #45sec."

The packed stands, the professional execution of the event, and the obvious dedication of the coaches showed us where the country can achieve if only we would decide to take the option of professionalism and diligence over cunning short-cuts. Special congratulations to Calabar's Michael Clarke, regarded as the most successful Champs coach. I suggest the JAAA and the JTB join to start a "Run with a Jamaican" summer promotion; high school children from all over the world would flock here! more

Garnet Silk remembered......Aaron Silk was mesmerising with original songs, as well as renditions of his famous sibling's hits. Zion In a Vision, Mama Africa, It's Growing and Bless I Oh Jah were some of the songs he performed from Silk's catalogue.

BY BASIL WALTERS Observer writer  Monday, April 07, 2014

THE legacy of reggae messenger Garnet Silk is growing. This was evident throughout the latest Conscious Reggae Party show, held at Redbones Blues Café in St Andrew on Friday night.

Silk

Dubbed 'Tribute to Garnet Silk', the show was held two days after his 48th birthday. It was an amazing commemoration for the singer who died tragically 20 years ago.

Among the artistes who gave invigorating performances for the full house were Natural Black, Nature and Ziggy Soul. The Livyn Kulcha and Kurfew band shared backing duties.

Silk's son Garnet Jr, and his brother Aaron Silk also stood out. Upcoming acts Papa D, Hefla Nyah, Dann I, Minouri, Timmy Talib and Thorpedo were also well received.

Papa D set the pace with a high-energy performance with the songs Jamaica Jamaicans, Walking on The Rainbow, Earth Rightful Ruler, The 23rd Psalm and Girl Like You.

Aaron Silk was mesmerising with original songs, as well as renditions of his famous sibling's hits. Zion In a Vision, Mama Africa, It's Growing and Bless I Oh Jah were some of the songs he performed from Silk's catalogue.

Then came tracks from his forthcoming album Herb Tree, such as I Rise, Empress and Family Stable.

Silk Jr personified his father's enduring charisma and stage presence. more

Phylis Sues, dancer celebrated 91st birthday while appearing on Katie Couric's TV show.....Phyllis Sues' active lifestyle at 91 includes; Tango, jump rope, tennis, yoga, trapeze and hiking. Phyllis exercises daily and dances the tango with her partner Felix Chavez (79)

Celebrating a 91st birthday is not what I'm after. Celebrating being here is where it's at. Celebrating the air we breathe, the ground we walk on. I celebrate each day that I wake up and can see the puffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky. I celebrate living in this amazing city of Los Angeles.

Posing for the camera at 89.

I just returned from an overnight trip to New York to appear on Katie Couric's TV show "Katie." While driving from JFK to the city, I realized how lucky I am to live in L.A. Living in New York in the 40's and the 50's to me, was probably the epitome of living. For me there was nothing to compare to that great city. Now, New York is different or maybe I'm a different person. Both apply. I've lived in Los Angeles for more than 60 years and it's grown in a million ways. Intellectually, musically and architecturally, are just a few.

But I'm vacillating. What this April 4th birthday means to me is really, that I have grown mentally and physically and that I never stop loving what I do. Only one minor hitch at this moment. Someone has thrown me a curve and for the first time in my life, I am feeling real pain and I learned how to deal with it. It was an amazing experience. WATCH VIDEO of her workout.

Sues doing the Peacock Pose
 at City Yoga, West Hollywood, CA.

I had a great opportunity, as I was asked to appear on Katie Couric's TV show (airing soon). Incidentally she is a truly great host and personality. A few days prior to flying to New York, I was feeling severe pain and I knew there was no way I could cancel this wonderful opportunity. So I made the flight to NYC and did the show, all the time feeling this agonizing pain. I had not a clue what the cause was. I stepped on stage with two other performers, a gentleman 100 years old and a beautiful lady 77 years old. So you get the picture of the premise of the show "how one deals with age." We were each interviewed, but in my case, plus the interview, Katie and I performed a headstand on the stage together and while in the headstand we talked and laughed and the audience went crazy! They love Katie and the show! more

Canadian Couple Faces Life Sentence For Killing 10-Y-O Jamaican Boy, Shakeil Boothewas beaten to death following months of abuse and neglect after he migrated to Canada to live with his father ....The boy was pulled from school and isolated from relatives and neighbours in order to hide his increasingly visible injuries.

The father and step-mother of a Jamaican boy living in Canada, who died after being beaten severely three years ago, have been found guilty of second-degree murder in an Ontario court. 

According to the Toronto Star, both parents, Nichelle Rowe-Boothe and Garfield Boothe are facing mandatory life sentences. Ten-year-old Shakeil Boothe was beaten to death following months of abuse and neglect after he migrated to Canada to live with his father. The Toronto Star reports that Boothe-Rowe wept in a Brampton, Ontario court after the jury handed down its verdict on Saturday following roughly 14 hours of deliberation, while Garfield Boothe remained stoic. 

Defence lawyers say the couple was “disappointed” by the verdict. None of Shakeil’s other relatives — including his mother, who lives the U.S. — were present for the verdict. Jurors heard gruesome evidence of how Shakeil — who came from Jamaica to live with his father in 2009 — was regularly beaten, deprived of food and chained to his bed in the months before he was found dead in his bed on May 27, 2011.  The Toronto Star says they were also shown autopsy photos showing scars of varying ages across Shakeil’s bony shoulders, back and legs; swelling in his hands and thighs and open wounds on his shins, some of which were yellowed with infection. 

The boy was pulled from school and isolated from relatives and neighbours in order to hide his increasingly visible injuries, according to testimony. He was never taken to a doctor despite his worsening condition, for fear it would reveal the abuse he endured. 

The court was told that Shakeil died “minutes to hours” after a savage beating, which left him with a black eye, bruises in several places on his head and refractured a previously cracked but healing rib. 
The attack caused widespread internal bleeding and overwhelmed his weakened body, precipitating what the pathologist called the boy’s “downward spiral” toward death. 

Shakeil’s father and stepmother admitted they kept his death quiet for a full day before calling authorities as they planned Boothe-Rowe’s escape to the U.S. with the boy’s infant half-brother. 

IN JAMAICA (A GOOD STORY): Mother of 16, BEATRICE Nelson Byfield now 106, watches TV for hours despite lack of hearing....Her eldest living child is now 81 years old.....Today she has approximately 44 grandchildren and an uncountable amount of great grandchildren

BY DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE Sunday Observer staff reporter husseyd@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, April 06, 2014 

BEATRICE Nelson Byfield sat smiling on her verandah. Her small frame defied the fact that she had given birth to 16 children, including one set of triplets.

But with the exception of her pleasant demeanour, the only words spoken by the 106-year-old as she held out her hand in greeting, was "mine you bruk mi hand", followed by an even broader smile.

Centenarian Beatrice Byfield is surrounded
by some of her grandchildren, (left to right)
Jacqueline Byfield, Michael Lewis, Carmen
 Campbell and Yvonne Clarke.
(PHOTOS: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

This, the Jamaica Observer team soon learnt has become one of her favourite statements after she fell and broke her leg in 2007, just before her 100th birthday, and her arm two months later. This landed her in the hospital for five weeks, her first stay at the institution in 100 years.

"Now she is very afraid of hospital," the centenarian's son, 64-year-old Franklin 'Mass Joe' Byfield stated.

"These are people who were never sick. They might go doctor with any little minor things but they never sick. So when she went to the St Ann's Bay Hospital she was there for three weeks with the broken leg and she wanted to come home, so she got confused and restless," he said.

"They sent her from Bay to Kingston and she did another two weeks there. Two months after she pin the leg and came out of the hospital, she was sitting down on the verandah and a little baby was about to fall and she reached to grab the baby, lost her balance and broke her hand. So now she afraid of breaks.

"If you hold her hand to shake it, she will laugh and tell you to mind you break her hand, or that she going to break your hand. But both her arms and her leg are okay now," Franklin added. more

JAMAICA First In Visa Fraud - Kingston Among Leading Capitals For Visa Rackets And False Documents

First In Visa Fraud - Kingston Among Leading Capitals For Visa Rackets And False Documents

Faced with one of the highest rates of visa fraud in the world, the United States Embassy in Kingston is trying another tack to shut down the operations of con artists scamming millions of dollars from thousands of desperate Jamaicans. more 

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South African trumpeter and vocalist, Jazz great Hugh Masekela celebrates 75th birthday...... with a little help from some old friends -- Paul Simon and Harry Belafonte -- in the city where he began what turned out to be a 30-year exile from his homeland.

Saturday, April 05, 2014 | 9:43 PM    

NEW YORK (AP) -- South African trumpeter and vocalist Hugh Masekela celebrated his 75th birthday with a little help from some old friends -- Paul Simon and Harry Belafonte -- in the city where he began what turned out to be a 30-year exile from his homeland.

Hugh 'Grazin in the Grass Masekela

Introducing Simon near the end of Friday night's concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theatre, Masekela noted that millions of people "who had never heard of South Africa before were just charmed and turned around by the album he made" in 1986 – ‘Graceland’, which won Grammys for Album and Record of the Year.

Masekela did not perform on the singer-songwriter's groundbreaking world music album much of which was recorded in South Africa when he was still exiled because of his attacks on the apartheid regime. But he and his former wife, singer Miriam Makeba, joined Simon on his ‘Graceland’ world tour which gave South African musicians global exposure.

Masekela and Simon then sang two of the album's biggest hits – ‘The Boy In the Bubble’ and ‘You Can Call Me Al’ -- backed by his quintet of young musicians, all but one of them from South Africa.

Earlier, singer Sibongile Khumalo earned a standing ovation as she joined Masekela for one number, displaying the multi-octave range and powerful voice that has earned her the reputation as South Africa's ‘First Lady of Song’.

Masekela's son, Sal, opened the concert by noting that his father has been "sharing the gift and the joy of music to people all around the world for the last five decades. For some reason, he does not get old."

Masekela, who turned 75 on Friday, proved that by performing for more than two hours -- playing fluegelhorn, singing, engaging in call-and-response patterns with the audience, and even throwing in a few dance moves. more

MANCHESTER, JAMAICA: 46 y-o Errol Dwyer and 19 y-o Raheim Reid reported missing of Green Street, Knockpatrick, Manchester, have been reported missing.....public being asked to contact the Mandeville police at 625-3423, police 119 emergency number

19 y-o Raheim Reid

Forty-six-year-old Errol Dwyer, resident at the Manchester Infirmary in Manchester, and 19-year-old Raheim Reid, of Green Street, Knockpatrick, Manchester, have been reported missing.

Dwyer has been missing since Sunday, and Reid since Monday.

Dwyer is of dark complexion, slim build and is about 168 centimetres (5 feet 6 inches) tall, while Reid is of dark complexion, medium build and is about 173 centimetres (5 feet 8 inches) tall.

routine check

Reports from the Mandeville police are that Dwyer was discovered missing during a routine check at the facility. At the time he went missing, he was dressed in a blue shirt, beige pants, a pair of black shoes and a red peak hat.

Reid left home about 11 p.m., for an undisclosed location dressed in a blue T-shirt, a black leather jacket and blue jeans pants. Both men have not been seen or heard from since.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Errol Dwyer and Raheim Reid is being asked to contact the Mandeville police at 625-3423, police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station. more

RAW VIDEO FOOTAGE OF VYBZ KARTEL ENTERING COURTHOUSE: Vybz Kartel | Sentenced to Life

Shawn 'Storm' Campbell Rejected Vybz Kartel Deal.... Vybz's crony offered three-year sentence for guilty plea..."I was approached by the prosecutor who made the offer. I discussed it with my client and he said there was no fact. He was not part of any plan to kill anybody so he refused.

BY KARYL WALKER Editor - Crime/Court Desk walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, April 06, 2014    

ENTERTAINER Shawn Campbell reportedly refused an offer from the prosecution to plead guilty to accessory before or after the fact of murder.

Vybz Kartel (centre), Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell
(second right) and Kahira Jones (right) leaving
the Supreme Court building last Thursday.
 (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

This was confirmed by his attorney Miguel Lorne and Director of Public Prosecution Paula Llewellyn.

Lorne said his client, known by the stage name 'Shawn Storm', was not asked to give any evidence against his co-accused but refused the deal because he was not part of any common design to kill Clive 'Lizard' Williams.

"I was approached by the prosecutor who made the offer. I discussed it with my client and he said there was no fact. He was not part of any plan to kill anybody so he refused. He said there was no fact. As an attorney I have to follow my client's instructions," Lorne told the Jamaica Observer.

Llewellyn confirmed the story. "I was told about it by the prosecutor, Jeremy Taylor. He said he approached his attorney with the offer," the DPP said. If he had accepted the offer Campbell would have served a three-year prison sentence.

Campbell, who is also called 'Sivva', was last Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Lennox Campbell for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. He must serve 25 years before he can be considered for early release. All the others were given life sentences, with Vybz Kartel (real name Adidja Palmer) being eligible for parole after he has served 35 years, while André St John and Kahira Jones will be eligible for parole after they have served 30 years and 25 years in prison, respectively. more

IN JAMAICA: 12-y-o and 28 y-o among two killed as gunmen attack residents in West Kgn A night of terror....."Dem kill me son! Why dem tek way me baby?" cried Claudette Matthews, mother of Kawayne 'Timo' McNuff, the 12-year-old victim who lived at Breadnut Lane. His nine-year-old brother was also injured by the gunmen's bullets.... "The man dem just come inna the area an' start fire shot at anybody dem see,".... "Dem even kick down a three-year-old baby as dem attack the people dem,"

BY KIMMO MATTTHEWS Sunday Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, April 06, 2014    

A 12-year-old boy and a 28-year-old man were shot dead late Friday by gunmen who subjected residents of a section of West Kingston to a night of terror.

Ten other persons were injured in the brutal attack on a group of persons standing at the intersection of Chestnut Lane and Charles Street about 8:30 pm.

Claudette Matthews cries yesterday as she tries
 to fathom why gunmen shot dead her
12-year-old son Friday night.

"Dem kill me son! Why dem tek way me baby?" cried Claudette Matthews, mother of Kawayne 'Timo' McNuff, the 12-year-old victim who lived at Breadnut Lane. His nine-year-old brother was also injured by the gunmen's bullets.

The 28-year-old man who was killed was identified as Ricardo Lowe.

"The man dem just come inna the area an' start fire shot at anybody dem see," said one woman.

"Dem even kick down a three-year-old baby as dem attack the people dem," said another woman.

Yesterday, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, who visited the community, reacted with anger to the brutal attack.

"I am very angry for a number of reasons; one of them is that police and citizens have been working in recent times to restore peace in the area, but there are certain elements strongly opposed to the efforts," Ellington said, adding that the police would be resolute in their response to the attack.

Member of parliament Desmond McKenzie, who also visited the community, urged police to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice.

McKenzie said the death of the child brought to eight the number of children shot dead by criminals since violence erupted between warring factions in 2012.

He also said the nine-year-old, who remains in hospital battling for his life, was the 31st child shot and injured by criminals over the period.

Claudette Matthews, whose 12-year-old
son was killed by gunmen Friday night,
is consoled by member of parliament
Desmond McKenzie while Police
Commissioner Owen Ellington (left),
Assistant Commissioner of Police
 George Quallo (second left)
and residents look on.

But even as police and soldiers increased their presence in the area, residents said they have been on edge as criminals have been walking through the communities telling people to take sides.

"Dem come an' a ask you to support dem. If you don't support dem they will kill you," said one woman.

She was among a group of people who spoke in hushed tones as police and soldiers combed the community.

"The last man dem hold two weeks ago in the area and ask him which side him on, the man say Jesus and a shoot dem shoot him and kill him," another resident told the Jamaica Observer.

Yesterday, head of the division, Superintendent Steve McGregor, who accompanied the police commissioner on the visit, warned that the police would not leave the area until law and order was restored.

He also denied claims that the violence had derailed efforts being carried out by police and other groups to reach out to residents in communities in the division. more

BREAKING NEWS Report: Chinese ship hears pulse signal in south Indian Ocean....They may have located the area where Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went down in deep waters.

(CNN) -- A Chinese patrol ship looking for signs of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in the southern Indian Ocean discovered Saturday a pulse signal with a frequency of 37.5 kHz, state news agency Xinhua reported.

"That is the standard beacon frequency" for both so-called black boxes -- the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder, said Anish Patel, president of pinger manufacturer Dukane Seacom. "They're identical." 

But experts cautioned that no confirmation had been made that the signal was linked to the missing plane. "We are unable to verify any such information at this point in time," the media office of the Joint Agency Coordination Centre said in an e-mail. more

ST. THOMAS, JAMAICA: 7-Y-O SHOT AFTER THREATS TO DAD.....Anyone with information can contact the Morant Bay Criminal Investigation Branch at 982-1027 or 982-2233, police 119 emergency number

An unreported threat made against the father of the seven-year-old child who was shot and injured in Lyssons, St Thomas, on Monday, is being investigated as the cause of the shooting, THE STAR understands.

Information reaching our news team is that the St Thomas police on Tuesday detained the man believed to have made the threat three days before the shooting.

alleged threat

THE STAR was told that the father had a dispute with a man from the area, during which threats were made against his life. Our news team gathered that the alleged threat was not reported to the police. The seven-year-old remains hospitalised.

Deputy Superintendent Charmaine Shand of the St Thomas police confirmed that the police, since the shooting, have received reports of a threat.

Shand said: "The suspect is in custody and is to undergo question and answer in the presence of his lawyer. The police visited the child yesterday (Tuesday) at the hospital, he's not talking but appears to be in stable condition."

It is reported that the boy was asleep with relatives in a one-room board house when explosions were heard about 4 a.m. Shortly after, he was seen with gunshot wounds to his side.

The police are seeking the public's assistance in their investigation of the shooting. Anyone with information can contact the Morant Bay Criminal Investigation Branch at 982-1027 or 982-2233, police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station. more

MIX-UP & BLEND UP: Pastor Tief Di Wifey Fram Huzzy......a prisoner turned pastor come build up a tent church and it happen that him like off a church sister

Pastor Tief Di Wifey Fram Huzzy

Raga, a prisoner turned pastor come build up a tent church and it happen that him like off a church sister. She short and sexy, but she married. Di pastor all a get nuff ppl to believe ina him and baptise, only fi hear somebody go look fi di lady at her house and ketch him a gi her a backas when har old husband gone a work! She end up lef har husband and de wid di pastor now. Even though him nav no money, she still choose him.

Well, it look like she rada di pastor blessings ova har husband support. Fram di position weh dem ketch dem inna it look like di pastor a shell out some props wok pon har an a dat she love.

Wife A Gi Bun An get Shot!

Raga, a quick mix-up.

One ooman leave har yard an tell har husband seh shi soon come.

Den she go pick up har bunna man. she an di bunna man pull up pan a ends and shot start fire and di ooman get shot. She a di bunna man run out.

Di mix-up is dat after she get shot, she go drop off back di bunna man first and den call har husband and seh "baby mi git shot!" di husband staat bawl an run go fi har an carry har go hospital.

Weh yu tink ... di bunna man should carry har, don't?

Actually, No, she do di smart ting. She nuh waan di bunna man go carry har go hospital an den di drama buss out an mash up har relationship. As long as di shot never connect har serious, she did di smart ting by first getting rid of di bunnaman first, den connecting wid har husband fi go hospital.

Of course, if she neva did a ketch man an a bun har husband she woulda neva did get shot.

Pastor Have Di 'Forget Me Not'

Back in the days I use to go to church regular and during that time I was going out with a church sister. We went out for a while and finally she decided to give me the juju. That night, I went to her house and we sort out. Just before we were finished she jumped up and started to cry then she ran into another room and locked the door. When I finally talked her into unlocking the door and she talked to me, she bust out and said 'you are not as heavy as the pastor'. I den reported the pastor and did not go back to that church. more