More news in brief

Police hunt hit-and-run motorists

The police yesterday remained on the hunt for two motorists involved in the hit-and-run of 28-year-old Jason Cruickshank of Shortridge Avenue, St Andrew, along the Jacks Hill main road just over a week ago.

The police's Corporate Communication Unit reports that about 5 a.m. on February 2, Cruickshank was crossing the road when he was hit by a blue truck, which was travelling towards Barbican Road. The registration number of the vehicle is not known.

It is suspected that another motor vehicle subsequently ran over Cruickshank and dragged him along the roadway. The registration number of the vehicle was not ascertained, however, the vehicle is said to be a white motor car.

Yesterday, the police said they were asking anyone with information that could assist in their investigations to contact the Matilda's Corner police at 978-6003, Police 119 emergency number, Crime Stop 311, or the nearest police station.

Persons may also send an email to standcentraldivhq@jcf.gov.jm.

JPs face court

Three sworn justices of the peace are set to appear in court today in an ongoing fraud case involving the bail of a murder suspect.

The police's Corporate Communication Unit said yesterday that the three justices of the peace are Roy Stephenson, 54, of St Johns Road, Spanish Town, St Catherine; 67-year-old Dennis Ho, of Graham Heights, Kingston 8; and John Henry, 44, of Harrington Parkway, Avon Park in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Both Stephenson and Ho are facing charges of false declaration and conspiracy to defraud, while Henry is charged with conspiracy to defraud.

The justices of the peace are to appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, along with their co-accused, 32-year-old Kwami N'Cosi, and 40-year-old Stephanie Cole-Christie, both of Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Clumsy child limit proposal - O'Brien Chang

Political commentator Kevin O'Brien Chang has described as "clumsy" a suggestion by an Opposition senator that the state should impose a limit on the number of children citizens can have.

Senator Ruel Reid, who is the principal of Jamaica College, made the suggestion in his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Upper House on Friday.

Chang says although many Jamaicans would agree that there were many people who have children they are unable to care for, they would not fully endorse a mandatory policy restricting people's rights to have children.

Drug-related offences dominate cases in RM courts

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is reporting that more than 15,000 Jamaicans were convicted for various offences last year in Resident Magistrate's (RM) courts across the island.

The majority of convictions were for drug-related offences, with all parishes, except Portland and St Mary, recording drug-related convictions as the main reason for prosecutions. Larceny, assault, and wounding were the major reasons for convictions in RM courts in St Mary and Portland.

Kingston and St Andrew recorded the highest number of convictions, with 6,842, of which 4,470 were drug-related.

The police's Area One, which comprises St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland, accounted for the second-largest number of convictions, with nearly 4,000 people convicted in RM courts across the three parishes.