Soldiers accused of assaulting two Trench Town men
Published:Tuesday | June 16, 2020 | 12:20 AMJason Cross/Gleaner Writer
Residents of Fourth Street in Trench Town are accusing the Jamaica Defence Force of abusing two of its residents last Friday. One of them reportedly had two of his teeth knocked out.
Rita Graham said on Monday that she was jolted into action by cries for “murder” coming from next door on Friday night.
“Mi hear some rumbling over di youth yard. Mi hear him a seh, ‘Ready, murder!’” said Graham, referencing her nickname. “Me start bawl out murda, too. When mi come out, mi come see him pon di ground wid blood a run out,” she told The Gleaner.
Graham said that one of the men sustained a “big, long chop inna him head” and multiple bruises. Blood poured from his ears, mouth and nose, she said.
According to her account, a police-military team had been patrolling the area when they suddenly stopped at her neighbour’s house, barged in, and began raining blows on him.
“Dem a drive past and seh dem see a man run. ... Dem push di man gate and start gi him lick from all angles. All him a tell dem seh him a fisherman and a show dem him licence, dem still a beat him,” she claimed.
Numerous complaints
That allegation is one of nearly two dozen lodged against members of the JDF to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM). The soldiers have increasingly come under fire for reported abuse or extrajudicial shootings.
Another resident likened the scene of last Friday’s alleged abuse to an army of ants devouring a meal.
“When mi look, mi see dem haul him out and like when ants a swarm things, a suh dem a beat him. Dem beat him, dem carry him in, and dem carry him out,” he said. “You wa see how him stiff. Mi go over to the checkpoint nearby fi tell them seh di man need help because him unconscious.”
The resident shared that shortly after, the soldiers then turned their fury upon the house next door, where another man was having an argument with his girlfriend.
“She start seh, ‘Him a beat mi’, and dem just lick out two a fi him teeth dem. ... Him tell dem fi mek she come out, so she tek up two likkle clothes and lef’.”
INDECOM, which probes reports of abuse by on-duty agents of the State, acknowledged that it was aware of both incidents but was awaiting the filing of formal reports. The first alleged victim had reportedly spoken with investigators on his return from the hospital.
Civil/military cooperation and media officer for the JDF, Major Basil Jarrett, said that the army was investigating the allegations. Last evening, he told The Gleaner that an update would be issued soon.