Eleven year-old found hanging

Believed to have committed suicide for fear of school bully

By HORACE HINES Observer West reporter

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Falmouth, Trelawny — DEMAL Jackson an 11-year- old Grade Six student of the Wait-a-Bit Primary School is believed to have committed suicide at his home in the farming community of All Sides in South Trelawny late Tuesday afternoon after being overcome with fear of facing a bully at school.

Yesterday when contacted by telephone Barrington Jackson, father of the deceased, was overcome with grief.

"Me can't talk because me mash up," said Jackson. "He (Demal) was supposed to do GSAT next month. Demal was a nice little boy...," the grieving father said before abruptly hanging up the phone.

According to a family member Demal and a school mate who is also his cousin were under pressure to pay money to a male Grade Nine student who claimed they damaged his video game.

It is alleged that the failure of the two cousins to pay over money to the Grade Nine student resulted in him consistently beating them.

Reports are that Demal's mother went to the house of the Grade Nine student on Tuesday afternoon and threatened to report the matter to the police if the older boy persisted in harassing her son.

However, on returning home at about 6:00 pm, the mother was unable to locate her son and she and her neighbours launched a search.

The body of the child was subsequently discovered swinging from a 'macka tree' by the rear of the house. He reportedly had a rope tied around his neck and a white cloth gagging his mouth.

The Constabulary Communications Network (CCN) confirmed yesterday that suicide was suspected.

Yesterday, Ted Jones, principal of the Wait-a-Bit All Age School could not confirm the allegations against the Grade Nine student but he noted that the school was in a sombre mood.

Jones disclosed that representatives from the Ministry of Education, counsellors from other schools in the area and members of the clergy had visited to offer counselling to traumatised students.

He described Demal as a well-behaved student.

"Demal used to be the first to be at school, the most helpful. He was extremely well behaved (and) he never displayed any negative behaviour. To hear what happened is very surprising," Jones told the Observer West by telephone.

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COMMENTS (16)

Antonette W.
2/15/2011

I hope the police continue to investigate and not just do the expedient and write this off as a suicide. "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck." Come on now folks! Why would he gag himself? This looks like murder.

Island Patriot
2/14/2011

I agree with you Patrick, I think this incident is suspicious, why would a person committing suicide have his mouth gagged??

Vashti Watson
2/14/2011

There goes another "Dog Paw" in the making, parents wake up from your slumber, that 9th grader needs a wake up call, trust me he does and if the parent does do something about it, just watch what is going to happen.
How did he reach this stage in the first place, I guess someone is going to blame society. Give me a freaking break here.
Mother of the deceased, take heart.. be strong....

Maureen Thomas
2/12/2011

I sincerely hope that if the grade 9 student was behaving as reported that the authorities will do their jobs and prosecute this little monster to the full extent that the law will allow. Additionally the parents of the boy who committed suicide because of this boy's bully should find a good lawyer and take steps to bring a civil suit against his parents. Schools need to take firmer action against bullying instead of doing what they do now, look the other way. My condolences to the parents.

Anthony II
2/12/2011

Whatever the circumstances, this is a sad story. I wish the family some peace eventually. In the case of bullying, more of us need to stand up for the people who are often picked on. We need to take a stand when we see others setting up on others (usually those perceive as weak and helpless). Adults need to set the examples. Adults are often guilty too of their own kind of bullying and picking on the weak.

Patrick Brown
2/11/2011

Ok is it just my suspicious nature....but.. an 11 yr. old is found with a gag in his mouth and hanging?...hmmm sounds like murder to me, hope they haven't closed the case.

Brooklyn Jamaican
2/11/2011

When I was in high school, there was a big useless boy who used to try the bully thing. Of course he didn't stop until one day i smashed a chair in his face and kicked him in his you know what. They need to take this bully thing serious. Especially when these big boys come from what they call "bad areas". They prey on other children.

ann g
2/11/2011

This alledged bully is around the age of 12-14 so what kind of parent raise bullies..yes, i am putting it squarely on the shoulders of parents..he should be charged..condolences to the family..i was bullied at school also and relief only came when the bully migrated to USA..a wanda weh happen to that R***S!! THIS IS SAD

Antonette W.
2/10/2011

I don't understand the significance of the white cloth gagging the victim's mouth. Is it possible that someone gagged and hung him? These things do happen. My condolences to his family.

Steve Allen
2/10/2011

This is very sad, but how many more students are bullied
in that way that one has to resort in committing suicide ?
The school or schools should do something about it.
Here in Canada I attend music classes at one of the local high schools in the evenings and in the class room there
were about a dozen (big) signs posted on the walls warning against students that bully others.
May be the Jamaican schools need to do that.

Ann Smith
2/10/2011

This is a sad situation. The question that comes to my mind is this: Did this child do it to himself or did someone do it to the child? Please check it out thoroughly.

STEPHANIE W
2/10/2011

Why are they assuming suicide? Just because he was bullied didn't mean he took his own life..why aren't they looking to the bully for answers? Why would you gag your own mouth before hanging yourself? This makes no sense. Many particulars in a crime mean something more. For instance, gagging could indicate someones desire to keep him from talking. This sounds like homicide.

J B
2/10/2011

Who will be charged and with what. Sad story.

tickyticky fish
2/10/2011

Sad story My condolence to Demal Jackson's parents and family. That Grade Nine student should be charge for the death of Demal.

Rose Rose
2/10/2011

THIS STORY BROUGHT ME TO TEARS. WHY? WHY?

larry smith
2/10/2011

here we go again,dont let this bully get away if you see a thug in the making talk to someone or the police ,stop him now before he pushes another child over the edge and i think that parents have a right to get help for their worries children. that said parents ought to be charged if failure to report the child dispeccable behaviour.

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Teen killed for laughing at man who fell from bicycle

Eleven year-old found hanging