More news in brief

... Shannon gets attorney

An attorney has been found to represent Tristan Shannon, the man accused of killing eight-year-old Ceelena Headman in St Thomas last month.

Shannon had been without an attorney since he was ordered remanded until March 24 when he appeared before Resident Magistrate Stephanie Jackson-Hasley on February 20.

The police say there are no other suspects in the case.

Headman's body was found in bushes in her community on February 3. Her hands were bound and her throat had been slashed three times.

The child had gone to a nearby shop to purchase meat but did not return.

University Council to recognise tertiary institutions

Thirteen tertiary institutions are to be presented with certificates in recognition of programmes and courses that have been accredited and re-accredited.

One institution in particular will receive a certificate of registration at an awards function, which will be one of the highlights during Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education Week, being hosted by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), starting today.

The week is being observed under the theme 'Developments in Tertiary Education: The Quality Imperative' and will include the Dennis Irvine Lecture, a workshop for institutions, and a student forum.

The awards function, to be held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, will also include the launch of the UCJ's Distance Education Standards, which will serve to guide institutions that wish to develop new or improve existing distance learning programmes.

Holness appoints two new junior spokespersons

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has announced the addition of two more persons to the Jamaica Labour Party's junior shadow cabinet.

They are attorney-at-law Kent Gammon and University of Technology lecturer Harold Malcolm.

Gammon will work alongside Karl Samuda, opposition spokesperson on industry, investment, commerce, mining and energy, while Malcolm will work alongside Alex Williams, opposition spokesman on justice.

The appointments bring to seven the number of deputy spokespersons appointed by Holness since January.

Mother of accused in child murder dies

The mother of 20-year-old Tristan Shannon, the man charged with the murder of eight-year-old Ceelena Headman in Top Hill, St Thomas, has died.

The time and circumstances surrounding her death were not immediately clear, but the Morant Bay police have ruled out foul play, theorising she may have succumbed to a stress-related illness.

The mother had fled her community after residents allegedly destroyed her house following Headman's killing.