Five cops arrested, charged with murder
May 05, 2006
FIVE MEMBERS of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), including two women, were yesterday arrested and charged with the controversial killing of Christopher McKenzie, who was shot at the guardroom of the Croft's Hill Police Station, Clarendon, in March 2005.
The police officers were charged following a ruling by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kent Pantry, Q.C., that all the officers who had worked on that shift must be charged with murder.
A team from the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) journeyed to May Pen, Clarendon, yesterday morning to arrest Corporal Dave Clarke, Woman Constable Cecile Wright-Anderson, District Constable Cheryl McKay, Constable Howard Taveres and Constable Easton McGreggor.
Resident Magistrate Glen Brown offered them bail and ordered them to return to court on May 18. According to an officer at the BSI, the women were offered bail in the sum of $200,000 with surety, and the men $300,000.
As part of the condition of their bail, the five were asked to surrender their travel documents.
"The DPP also instructed that Corporal Clarke be charged departmentally for his failure to get urgent assistance for the injured Mr. McKenzie," said Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Granville Gause, of the BSI.
CONFLICTING REPORTS
There are conflicting reports surrounding the incident which took place more than a year ago. One version claimed that Mr. McKenzie had gone to the police station to file a report when an argument developed between him and a policeman, during which he was shot....
Author: Glenroy Sinclair
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
