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News

It was chaos in Yallahs Square

BY PAUL HENRY Crime/Court Desk co-ordinator henryp@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, September 05, 2012 | 9:00 AM



KINGSTON, Jamaica — For Novia Lamont, the scene was surreal: Her eight-month pregnant sister sprawled on the ground, blood running from her head.

The screams that Kayann had been shot. The police officer standing there, gun pointed at her. It was chaos in Yallahs square.

"It was like a nightmare," Novia told the Jamaica Observer this morning less than 24 hours after being released from the Princess Margaret Hospital in St Thomas.

On that fateful Saturday last week in the Yallahs square, Novia did not know that she herself was shot as she ran towards her sister after hearing the explosions.

"I wasn't looking at myself. I was looking at my sister on the ground," she said.

People were shouting all around here. Her sister was gasping for air. Novia didn't feel the pain in her shoulder or see the blood running down here body.

"When she took her last breath, that's when I realized that I was shot," she said.

Both women were rushed to the hospital where 27-year-old Kayann was pronounced dead and Novia admitted.

Novia said this morning that she is now feeling a lot of pain in her stomach and side. She's to return to the hospital for an ultrasound.

But she adds that it feels good to know that the man who has caused her and her family such grief will be charged and brought before the court for his action.

Yesterday, Acting Director of Public Prosecution, Lisa Palmer-Hamilton ruled that Corporal Dwayne Smart is to be charged with murder, illegal possession of firearm, wounding with intent and assault.

Kayann was shot, a few feet away from the Yallahs Police Station, following a tussle with Smart, who had accosted her over the use of indecent language.

Another sister, Shemean Lamont, was allegedly assaulted by the cop, who also turned the gun on her. However, the weapon did not fire.



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