Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
News
October 22, 2010

Rights activists unhappy with DPP’s decision in Tivoli case

TWO of the island’s most vocal human rights advocates have described as “uncomfortable” and “enabling” Thursday’s decision by the director of public prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, not to prosecute the soldiers implicated in the shooting death of one of five men in Tivoli Gardens two years ago.

Llewellyn had offered no evidence against the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers when they appeared in the Home Circuit Court, resulting in Justice Ingrid Mangatal instructing a panel of 12 jurors to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

But yesterday Dr Carolyn Gomes, who heads the rights group Jamaicans For Justice, and Yvonne McCalla-Sobers of Families Against State Terrorism, expressed disappointment at the decision.

McCalla-Sobers expressed fears that the decision will send the wrong message to members of the security forces.

“This is really enabling people to think that they can do what they feel like without impunity,” McCalla-Sobers told the Observer.

Gomes added: “It’s uncomfortable. It’s just like what happened in the Michael Gayle case.” She listed similar cases in which members of the security forces have been released because the prosecutor at the time opted not to press for charges to be laid or offered no evidence at trial.

Gayle, a mentally-challenged man, was killed by a soldier in Olympic Gardens, Kingston in August 1999. In August 2005, then DPP Kent Pantry ruled that no one was criminally responsible for Gayle’s death. The deceased family was later awarded close to $3 million by the government.

In the instant case of the five men — 23-year-old Fitzroy Daley, 18-year-old Conrad Francis, 22-year-old Oneil Palmer, 20-year-old Ronaldo Mitchell and 23-year-old Kwesi Cunningham — being killed in Tivoli Gardens in January 2008, a panel of jurors, after hearing weeks of evidence in the coroner’s court, last month ruled that the soldiers be charged for Palmer’s death.

But on Thursday, Llewellyn told the court that the Crown was not in a position to mount a viable case against the soldiers, based on her review of the depositions and statements in the matter. She said the Crown would not be able to challenge a claim of self-defence.

The coroner’s jury also handed down a verdict that Constable Metro Tulloch, who is now deceased, should be charged with the murder of Mitchell. Llewellyn said had Tulloch been alive, he would have to face a trial.

The jury had ruled that Inspector Linroy Edwards and Constable Neil Gordon should be charged with aiding and abetting murder in relation to Mitchell, but Llewellyn is reported to have said that there was no cogent or credible evidence pointing to any criminal breaches against the two.

The coroner’s jury found that there was justifiable homicide in the case of Cunningham, Daley and Francis.

The lawmen had gone to the West Kingston community in search of wanted men when they were reportedly fired on before returning fire, killing all five men. Five illegal guns were reportedly recovered from the men.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

US country music legend Dolly Parton dies at 80
International News, Latest News
US country music legend Dolly Parton dies at 80
August 25, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) country music legend Dolly Parton, who grew up poor in Tennessee and became a household name with h...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cameroon’s Baleba joins as Man United boost midfield options
International News, Latest News
Cameroon’s Baleba joins as Man United boost midfield options
August 25, 2026
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP)—Cameroon's Carlos Baleba has joined Manchester United from Brighton and Hove Albion, the Premier League giants announ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cabinet Office moves to strengthen performance and coordination across gov’t
Latest News, News
Cabinet Office moves to strengthen performance and coordination across gov’t
August 25, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Office of the Cabinet says it is moving to strengthen policy coordination, implementation and performance monitoring across th...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
PNP announces new regional chairs for 2026-2027 term
Latest News, News
PNP announces new regional chairs for 2026-2027 term
August 25, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People's National Party (PNP) has confirmed six regional chairpersons for the 2026 to 2027 term following a process in which t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Raw voice, big reaction: Complex Ricki strikes viral chord with Sizzla cover
Entertainment, Latest News
Raw voice, big reaction: Complex Ricki strikes viral chord with Sizzla cover
August 25, 2026
It wasn't supposed to be a viral moment. Complex Ricki was rehearsing for upcoming performances, working with her vocal coach and experimenting with c...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
TikTok personality ‘Happy Wife’ Nordia Bryan dies after cancer battle
Latest News, News
TikTok personality ‘Happy Wife’ Nordia Bryan dies after cancer battle
August 25, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Observer Online understands that popular TikTok personality Nordia Bryan, affectionately known online as “Happy Wife”, died on Mon...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cartadon defies death to score charting success
Entertainment, Latest News
Cartadon defies death to score charting success
August 25, 2026
Dancehall sensation Cartadon has many reasons to smile of late considering the fact that he literally escaped death. The Kingston native who recently ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Rachel Renee gets versatile with three versions of ‘Til I Hate You’
Entertainment, Latest News
Rachel Renee gets versatile with three versions of ‘Til I Hate You’
August 25, 2026
Prior to recording Til I Hate You , her latest song, Rachel Renee wanted to express the pain of heartbreak to the different sounds she was raised on. ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct