News Briefs

Delivery man killed by cops

A 20-year-old bike delivery man was allegedly fatally shot by the police at his Zacky Avenue home in Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, on Monday.

Residents said that Quacie Harriot, otherwise called ‘Chad’, was killed shortly after noon.

They said that the police waved a firearm, claiming it was taken from the dead man.

Three hours after the incident, sleuths from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) had not yet visited the shooting scene because the community was restive.

“We were told by the police that there was an unrest in the area and that it is not safe to go in there,” said an INDECOM officer, who requested anonymity.

INDECOM officers reportedly turned up shortly after 4 p.m., long after onlookers walked in and out of the ill-fated house.

Family and residents claimed that the police had tampered with evidence, washing out sections of the house and leaving only a small splash of blood on a bucket in the kitchen and three 9mm shell casings.

Harriott’s fast-food delivery bag was seen on a bed inside the house.

“Them run into the house and kill him. Them kill mi bredda,” cried Harriott’s older brother, Desmond Robinson, noting that he had minutes earlier made enquiries to his sibling about Internet connection.

Residents of Tivoli said that Harriott was not involved in violence.

Up to 5 p.m., the police information arm did not provide an official report on the incident.

UWI lecturers end strike

The union representing lecturers at The University of the West Indies, Mona, has agreed to suspend industrial action over remuneration.

Representatives from the university and the West Indies Group of University Teachers said that a meeting on Monday had achieved progress on key claims, including a four per cent hike.

On Friday, more than 800 lecturers at The UWI voted to go on strike with immediate effect.

COVID outbreak stalls gang trial

The resumption of the Clansman-One Don Gang trial has been rescheduled to January 24 because of the absence of one of the 33 defendants who has been placed in isolation arising from an outbreak of COVID-19 at the South Camp Road lock-up.

When the matter was called up in the Home Circuit Court on Monday, the registrar told the court that the lone female defendant, Stephanie Christie, is in isolation.

The court was also told that members of the prosecution team were also affected by COVID-19 and were absent as a result.

The reputed leader of the gang, Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan, and his alleged cronies are being tried on an indictment with 25 counts under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organizations) Act and the Firearms Act.

The One Don Gang is a breakaway faction of the Clansman Gang.