St Thomas teen drowning, St Mary guilty plea and Bronx family killing lead news

The body of 16-year-old Munro College student Kamal Reynolds was recovered off St Thomas on Thursday after he encountered difficulties while swimming at Chalet Beach on Wednesday. Reynolds, who lived in St Elizabeth, was among students in the water when he disappeared below the surface. A search paused Wednesday evening before resuming Thursday. Yallahs police and the Marine Police are investigating.

Police Constable Patrick Walters, 24, pleaded guilty Wednesday in the St Mary Circuit Court to manslaughter and using a firearm to commit a felony. He had initially been charged with murder over the June 25, 2025 shooting death of his girlfriend, 20-year-old Dijanique Graham. The court heard that a dispute developed at Graham’s Richmond home about 9:15 p.m. Both appeared wounded when police arrived and were taken to Port Maria Hospital, where Graham died. Prosecutors authorised the charges on July 17, 2025. Walters, represented by Donahue Martin, will be sentenced September 25.

In New York, Jamaican Michael Foster, 58, was charged Wednesday with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon after his niece was killed during an alleged disagreement over an inherited house. Julia Anderson, 39, was shot several times near her Murdock Avenue residence in the Bronx’s Wakefield community shortly before midnight Monday. Police responding to a 911 call found her outside. Anderson, who also lived in nearby Mount Vernon, died at Jacobi Medical Center. Relatives said her 40th birthday was one month away.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said Jamaica cannot clear 1.1 million unresolved traffic tickets before the new demerit-point system begins in October, leaving hundreds of motorists at risk of penalties. A stakeholder group is examining solutions. Vaz said limited court space, staffing and judicial resources, along with the requirement for cases to be heard in the parish where offences occurred, prevent simple redistribution. The Government is considering more court resources, administrative assistance, longer sittings and transitional legislation, subject to consultation and judicial independence.

Senior Superintendent Lloyd Darby said 160 people died in road crashes during the first half of 2026, 41 fewer than at the same point last year. The police aim to keep annual deaths below 300, achieved only seven times in 50 years and most recently in 2012. Motorcyclists account for 30 to 32 per cent of yearly fatalities; 111 motorcycle drivers died last year. Police want to halve motorcycle deaths and cut other categories by 10 per cent. More than 400,000 tickets have been issued this year, including over 70,000 for speeding, while nearly 2,400 motorcycles were seized—1,600 more than last year. Darby urged helmet and seatbelt use, child restraints and defensive driving. Police have also received certified-helmet training through the Jamaica National Foundation.