Pastor uses national service to condemn police killing

THE Rev Conrad Pitkin yesterday used the National Emancipation-Independence thanksgiving service to condemn last week's televised beating and shooting death of a St Ann man by the police.

"On Friday evening we all viewerd with horror and disbelief a young man as he was haggled by members of the security force, and if that was not enough he was shot in cold blood," he said.

"My first reaction was that this cannot be happening now in our beautiful nation. Not now!" Rev Pitkin, of Faith Temple Assembly of God in Montego Bay, St James, told the thanksgiving service held at the Emmanuel Apostolic Church in Kingston.

"The church condemns these callous, bold and barbaric actions of the members of the police force and in the same breath we commend the swift action of our commissioner of police in dealing with the matter and we accept no less from our leaders," Rev Pitkin said.

The official report from the Constabulary Communication Network said on Thursday afternoon that Ian Lloyd, alias 'Ching Sing', attacked the police, after fatally stabbing his wife, and was shot.

However, an amateur video carried on TVJ Friday evening showed Lloyd, appearing to be unarmed, being beaten and then allegedly shot by the police in Buckfield, St Ann.

Lloyd, who had reportedly attacked and stabbed to death his common-law wife, Loveta Wilson, was pronounced dead at hospital.

The policemen said to be involved in the incident have since been arrested, following the orders of the police commissioner, Owen Ellington.

Several groups, including the Police Federation, Jamaicans For Justice, as well as Security Minister Dwight Nelson and Public Defender Earl Witter have condemned police involved in the incident.