News Briefs

Cocoa Piece killer hit with assault, contraband charges

Rushane Barnett, the 23-year-old who pleaded guilty to the murder of a mother and her four children in Clarendon, has been charged following an alleged confrontation with cops at the Half-Way Tree lock-up.

The police report that the incident occurred as personnel sought to recover contraband Barnett allegedly had in his possession on Tuesday.

Head of the St Andrew Central Police Division, Senior Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, told The Gleaner that items, including a cell phone, were seized.

He did not reveal the other items.

Barnett was charged with assaulting a police officer and possession of contraband.

The murder convict reportedly assaulted the policewoman and threw “an item that had some juice in it” at the other cops.

Barnett is facing the death penalty for the June murders of Kemesha Wright and her children, Kimanda Smith, Shara-Lee Smith, Rafaella Smith, and Kishawn Henry Jr.

Holness off to Queen’s funeral, UN

Prime Minister Andrew Holness left the island Wednesday afternoon for visits to the United States and the United Kingdom.

Holness was scheduled to have a working visit to Boston, Massachusetts, where he will, among other things, participate in a conference at the invitation of Harvard University

He will then travel to the UK for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth ll on September 19 before participating at the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York in the US.

The prime minister returns to the island on September 24.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang will lead the Government.

Calabar to honour Gregory, Domville, Ellis

Three distinguished alumni of Calabar High will be honoured at a special annual dinner and awards ceremony as the school celebrates its 110th anniversary.

The honourees include The Most Reverend Dr Howard Gregory, Archbishop of the West Indies; Carl Domville, chairman of the Gleaner Company (Media) Limited and governor of the National Foundation for Development of Science and Technology; and Keith Ellis, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, who specialised in Latin American poetry.

There will also be a special recognition of former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and Michael Clarke, past head coach of Calabar’s track and field team who led the school to nine liens on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy.

The reunion dinner and gala will be held on Saturday, September 17, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Gregory will be the guest speaker.

Patterson praises niece Ralph for Emmy win

Former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson has congratulated his niece, Jamaican-American actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, on winning her first Emmy.

Ralph was awarded Monday Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series as the character Barbara Howard in Abbott Elementary.

“You already know how proud this uncle was to know that his sister Ivy, your beloved mother, was rejoicing in the heavenly kingdom with her usual broad smile,” Patterson said in a media statement Thursday.

Patterson said Ralph’s achievement was even more significant to him given their shared heritage, familial connection, close personal relationship, and the great mutual admiration, regard, and respect they have shared over many years.

“This well-deserved award is testament to your lifetime of excellence; your amazing, abundant reservoir of talent; and the substantial and awe-inspiring body of work which you have established, including, but not limited to, your work onstage and onscreen,” Patterson siad, lauding the actress.