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Green describes murder of St Ann teen as cruel, barbaric

Published:Monday | October 22, 2018 | 2:39 PM
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Floyd Green - File photo

Cruel, inhumane and barbaric are some of the words used by Floyd Green, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, to describe the killing of 14-year-old Raven Wilson, a third form student of Ocho Rios High School in St Ann.

The mutilated body of the teen was found in a plastic bag, metres away from her home in the Top Hill community of St Ann’s Bay on Sunday.

She was reported missing on Friday.

“I am seriously disturbed by the killing of yet another promising young girl, whose life was cut short by cold and heartless criminals. There is simply no justification for such cruelty against our children. The level of violence being meted out against them needs to stop because it is robbing them of their right to life,” Green said.

Making reference to the recent spate of child murders, he stressed that there seems to be a worrying trend as perpetrators are dismembering their victims.

“We want to send a clear message to these perpetrators that there will absolutely be no safe haven for them. We continue to work assiduously with the police, and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring they are brought to justice,” Green said.

The state minister urged the community to come forward with any information that can assist the police with their investigation.

Meanwhile, a team of first responders from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency was yesterday dispatched to initiate grief counselling to relatives of the deceased and community members.

The team today visited the Ocho Rios High School to conduct counselling sessions with affected children, followed by a home visit during the course of the week.

Green expressed condolences to the relatives of young Raven and pledges the full support of the education ministry.

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