Dear Editor,

For fear of being branded as barbarians, many of the pundits have condemned what Mr Reneto Adams said in reference to the Tredegar killings. However, I believe that he said what many are thinking.

I am a firm believer in capital punishment, so I believe in punishing the people in our society who take the lives of my fellow Jamaicans without even batting an eye. I am not an advocate for extra-judicial killings by the police. I am an advocate for justice, although some would argue that justice varies depending on your perspective. This is the view I hold. I believe that justice is fairness based on established standards, ethical consideration, procedures, and the law of the land.

Another person’s perspective of justice may be in stark contrast to mine. I will give an example: I am the fiancée of one of the young men who were murdered in Tredegar Park. I know who killed my spouse because I was hidden in the closet where the gunman could not see me but where I could see him. The following day I saw on the news that that same man was shot – execution-style – and killed by the police (an extra-judicial killing). In my estimation, justice was served. To the human rights activist, he is a corrupt cop who should rot in prison. One man’s corrupt cop is another man’s hero.

The anger and emotions incited by the Tredegar Park incident would lead even the average well-thinking Jamaican to feel similar sentiments to those expressed by Adams — even for a moment.

Elizabeth Russell

Kingston 6

lizzi.russell@gmail.com