At least one police officer has raised concerns about the way people are now settling disputes, following several stabbing deaths in fights that stemmed from “minor issues”.“Persons don’t believe they can settle disputes amicably,” head of the St Ann Criminal Investigation Unit, Deputy Superintendent of Police Richard Hilton, told the Jamaica Observer during a telephone interview.
He pointed out that many people are being killed over “small items”.
“We are losing lives — some young lives that could be contributing to their country… Persons are letting their anger drive them,” he said.
The deputy superintendent called on people involved in disputes to seek the help of professionals or respectable community members to help settle these disputes.
Among those killed in disputes recently are Akeem Berbick of Eight Miles, and Robert Gentles of Bamboo, both in St Ann.
A 17-year-old schoolgirl of Fowler Town in Eight Miles has been charged with Berbick’s murder. She appeared before the St Ann Parish Court on Wednesday, where she was remanded.
The teenager was charged after she reportedly stabbed 23-year-old Berbick following a dispute over a phone charger on May 25. Reports are that the two had an argument which escalated into a fight. The schoolgirl allegedly used a knife to inflict several stab wounds to Berbick’s abdomen. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The police are also expected to charge a woman, who is said to be a commercial s*x worker, after she allegedly stabbed and killed a man on May 24 in Salem, Runaway Bay.
Reports are that the two got into an argument after the man allegedly robbed her of money he had initially paid her. The police were reportedly addressing the man when the woman stabbed him. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The man has still not been identified.
A construction worker is also expected to be charged soon, following the stabbing death of a man on a construction site in Richmond, St Ann. Gentles, a 36-year-old labourer, was stabbed to death on May 27.
Allegations are that he and the accused had an argument over money. Gentles reportedly used a machete to hit the accused man across his face. The accused man then allegedly used a knife to stab him several times.
Gentles was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead while the accused was taken into police custody.
A peer foolinish dat fi true….waste a life all di one ova charger really? phone charger?
This Article is very truthful. All it takes is just 1 disagreement, and next ting you know, is eeda a rockstone, knife, icepick, acid, scissors, machete, or gun come een fe add de finishing touch to de disagreement……..then death.
Many ppl feel seh if dem solve a dispute amicably is a sign of weakness, à dat a di root a all dis, arrogance even more dan di anger, dem must dun dem mentality.
So a nuh gunman alone a mash up di place di average ppl dem a do fi dem share of murders. Meck dem keep it up, dem will live fi see strangers teck dem land and rule over dem because dem never had the sense fi preserve and value life. Outsiders just watching and waiting fi unno wipe out unnoselves suh dem can move een. Damn bunch a fools
When a person get disrespected obviously we get angry and want to defend it… Is there another way out? How do we cope with such situations? These issues need to be taught in schools and give examples of how things can easily escalate into murder, where nobody is the winner, one inna morgue the other inna prison..
Please get the schools and colleges and TV programs to highlight such issues as we as a people need guidance…
Please and tanks. …