SOS Jamaica  few cases:
Janice Allen 13 years old, shot and killed at Trenchtown April 2000, Trenchtown, Kingston Janice Allen was out on the street with her sister when she was shot at by the police. She fell to the ground, paralyzed, while her sister cried to some policeman for help: they ignored her. Janice died while being taken to the hospital by local residents. She was 13. The depositions of eyewitnesses state that a policeman took aim and fired directly at Janice. The police denied the statements, declaring that Janice died because she was caught in the crossfire between the police and armed men. On May 15th 2000, policemen threatened to kill Janice's family. An officer from the Denham Town police was alleged to have said,"You are all about to die." Janice's brother, Aundre Lindo, was arrested, put in jail, and tortured without being charged for over 12 hours. He was released thanks to the efforts of a local human rights group. The same day, Janice's sister was threatened while she was on her way to the Hunt Bay police to look for her brother. The policemen turned out her from the police station under the threatened of 'break her head' and other heavy things. Since then the family has received more death threats: Janice's mother, who has been fighting for justice ceaselessly, was publicly criticized by the vice police commissioner and head of the BSI (which investigates homicides for the police) for having refused to allow an autopsy on her child unless an independent doctor was in attendance. In April 2001 a summons was issued for homicide following an order by the public prosecutor. The trial was in some respects farcical; during the hearing it was evident that the judicial panel was far from impartial: several witnesses stated they saw the defendant embrace the judge before the hearing, and when it was over he publicly threatened Janice's sister, the key witness in the trial. The trial was undeniably difficult, but this time, thanks to the funds raised by SOS Jamaica, the trial was monitored, and proceeded in a proper fashion. The policeman who shot Janice was charged, and the judge authorized legal proceedings against him. Millicent Allen, Janice's mother, publicly thanked "the european reggae brothers & sisters for their help and their warmness. God bless them!"
 27/06/2006 Janice Allen Judicial Review Arguments From Jamaicans For Justice the latest in the Janice Allen case for appeal of refusal to apply for Judicial Review in the court of appeals: |
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