WESTERN BUREAU — Clifford Wedderburn, father of slain teenager, Amanie Wedderburn who was killed by a police Constable in Negril some seven weeks ago, has criticised the slow pace of the investigations into the matter.

And the self-employed 43 year-old, is demanding justice for his child.

“I would like justice. It’s going too long now and we can’t get no justice. I want to see the police man locked up because if I go out there and kill anyone I would be locked up right away,” Wedderburn told the Observer.

“My child was just a bystander and nobody nuh put out no effort fi lock up the police all now. I am so upset. I can’t eat. I can’t feel good. This thing rest on my mind big time,” he added.

At the time of his death on May 2, Amanie, 14, the younger of his father’s two sons, was a grade eight student of the Green Island High School in Westmoreland.

“That’s my son, I clean his s… when he was much smaller so that’s my love and I lose him so quick and so foolish. I can’t believe it,” his father said, clearly distraught at his son’s death.

“I really upset about this. I wasn’t looking for this… I shock over the news when I hear… I was trying with Amanie from he was three months old and looking for something good from him and he was trying so hard in school,” he added.

At 10:00 pm on Friday, May 2 the police were reportedly called to a fracas along the West End main road in Negril that involved a fruit vendor and three young men who were allegedly using stones to damage the vendor’s produce. When the police, a male corporal and a female constable, arrived, the three men were nowhere to be seen. But as soon as they left, they were called back to the scene following reports that the men had returned.

One of the young men was pointed out to the lawmen but when they tried to apprehend him, an unruly mob demanded the young man’s release. One member of the mob reportedly tried to wrest the young man away from the cops.

As a result, a third officer was called to assist his colleagues. Members of the crowd allegedly attempted to relieve the cop of his service revolver.

A struggle reportedly ensued and two rounds were discharged from the weapon. One of the rounds hit Amanie, who was in the crowd, in the head. He was later pronounced dead at the Savanna-la-mar Hospital.

Last Thursday, Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for the Bureau of Special Investigations, Perry Edwards, told the Observer that the investigations were winding down.

“All statements relating to witnesses… have been collected. Possibly now we are looking to get the ballistic report to complete the file. But it is in a far advanced stage now,” Edwards said then.

Once the case file is complete, it will be sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a ruling on whether the Constable in question ought to be charged for the teen’s murder.

Amanie’s uncle, Eric Wedderburn, 50, has expressed contempt for the Constable accused of doing the shooting.

“(He) murdered our little 14 year-old for no reason at all. It’s going seven weeks now and he hasn’t been charged or arrested and I need justice to be served. The BSI said they are investigating and it seems like it’s so long,” Wedderburn said.

And while admitting that he was not at the scene of the May 2 incident, he argued that contrary to police reports, the Constable was not engaged in a tussle with anyone at the time of the shooting.

“Nothing of such. I heard from 21 witnesses there,” Wedderburn said. “(The accused lawman) go back to Negril police station and write in the diary that somebody hold on him back and cause the gun to go off. No one touched him.”

The Constable has not been arrested, but he has been transferred from the Negril police station where he served two of his almost five years with the Jamaica Constabulary Force.