St. Catherine killing charge, Gregory Park road protest and police camera dispute lead Jamaica news roundup

A St. Ann man known as “Tutu” has been charged after a May 15 shooting in St. Catherine that killed 62-year-old farmer Clement Mills and injured Mills’ wife. Police identified the accused as 33-year-old Jamie Stevenson of Manzerfield Heights, St. Ann, and said he faces charges including murder, possession of a prohibited weapon, wounding with intent, unauthorised possession of ammunition and using a firearm to commit a felony.

Investigators said Mills and his wife were travelling about 11 a.m. in a Toyota van carrying water collected in Louisa’s Vale when a gunman came from bushes along the road toward Point Hill and fired on the vehicle. The wounded couple’s van crashed, and police later assisted them to hospital, where Mills was pronounced dead and his wife admitted. Stevenson was reportedly arrested about four hours later, allegedly with an illegal firearm, and was pointed out on an identification parade on May 25 before being charged in the presence of his attorney.

In Gregory Park, St. Catherine, taxi operators protested on Wednesday over roads they said have been neglected for years. They said potholes are damaging vehicles, hurting earnings and creating serious problems when it rains, including for students, businesses and emergency access. Member of Parliament Alando Terrelonge said he supports residents’ call for repairs and urged the National Works Agency and the responsible ministry to find the resources to fix roads across Portmore and East Central.

St. Catherine police are also investigating after passers-by found the decomposing body of an unidentified woman in bushes in Heartland district about 11 a.m. Wednesday. The body, estimated at about 5 feet 6 inches, was found lying on its back, dressed in black tights and a blouse, and barefoot.

In New Building, St. Elizabeth, 52-year-old restaurant operator Eclavius Campbell, also called “Indian”, was shot dead at his business, Missing Place Food To Go, about 9:35 p.m. Wednesday. Reports said two men posed as customers, ordered food, then one opened fire while Campbell was serving them.

A deported St. Catherine man, Oran Beckford, otherwise called “Yaya”, is to stand trial on June 11 in the 2020 killing of 37-year-old labourer Javon Powell of Old Road, Thompson Pen, Spanish Town. Beckford was granted $400,000 bail with surety and ordered to report to police in Clarendon.

Opposition spokesman on national security Fitz Jackson also criticised the Government over delays in providing body-worn cameras for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, after the CCTV-recorded police shooting death of Latoya Bulgin in Granville, St. James. Speaking at a Jamaicans for Justice round table, Jackson said making camera use an operational matter for the police commissioner was “nothing more than a copout” and argued urgent procurement can be done when government treats it as a priority.