ACCUSED gangster Christopher ‘Dawg Paw’ Linton, once listed as the country’s most wanted man, has appealed from behind bars for an end to the gruesome beheadings that have rocked the nation over the past two weeks.

In a letter written by the accused man and released by his attorney to the Sunday Observer over the weekend, Linton distanced himself from the recent spate of horrific decapitations that have occurred in Spanish Town, St Catherine and his old stomping ground in August Town, St Andrew. He called for cool heads in the face of rumours of possible retaliation by persons said to be aligned to him.

“Jamaica, Tavern, Bedward Gardens, August Town, Hall’s Delight, and every other community that has been affected by the recent upsurge of violence and atrocious beheading of several Jamaican citizens and human beings, I need to make it clear that I, Christopher Linton, in no way support either the beheading of a man, nor the retaliation, or revenge (against) the beheaders or the community from which they come,” the statement read.

His appeal came almost a week after the decapitation of 37-year-old Gary Smith, who was killed after being dragged from his home in Bedward Gardens, August Town, where Linton once resided.

The Sunday Observer understands that Linton knew Smith who was highly respected in the community, and was upset at news of his brutal killing.

Police reported last week that since the beheading, tensions have been escalating in August Town. The fears of a resumption of a previous blood feud have been fed by rumours that men linked to the Dawg Paw gang were seeking revenge for Smith’s killing.

“The man dem inna the area a plan to retaliate,” said a resident, who declined to give his name out of fear.

“The man dem vex ’bout the killing of Smith,” he added.

Smith’s beheading followed three others between July 18 and 23 in which 18-year-old Scott Thomas, 40-year-old Charmaine Rattray and her 19-year-old daughter Joyette Lynch, were decapitated and the heads taken away in Lauriston on the outskirts of the old capital of Spanish Town in St Catherine.

Members of the Klansman gang were alleged to have been the culprits.

With residents on edge, the police last week imposed a curfew in and around August Town. The crimefighters also issued a call for residents to give up the names of persons who were responsible for the attack.

In an ironic twist, Linton, who is awaiting trial on charges of illegal posession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as abduction, lent his support to the calls.

“I am in no way condoning violence between or within any communities, least of all, the one which I come from. I resent my name being used as a constant scapegoat for violence that has occurred in Tavern and Bedward Gardens,” said Linton in his statement.

According to the accused man, months before he was named by the police as a ‘person of interest’, or even a wanted man, he was instrumental in setting up an organisation called ‘Tavern for Peace and Prosperity’ which he claimed was intended to educate and unify young people in that community.

“I have only ever been the promoter of that group and NOT the head of this ‘Dawg Paw Gang’ as many have been led to believe! Even the police can attest to the difference that has taken place in the area since the inception of this community organisation,” said Linton. Prior to his capture, Linton had earned the reputation of being one of the most feared members of the criminal underworld, and notoriously anti-police. However, in his letter, he urged residents of his old neighbourhood not to retaliate following the gruesome killings, and called for a better relationship between the police and residents in the area.

He specifically wished for unity between residents of Tavern and those of nearby “Dread Heights”, who are reportedly feuding.

“I can only imagine how tired Tavern residents have become, and I pray for not only a better relationship with the community of Dread Heights, but also a respectful and trusting relationship with the police officers that keep us all safe,” said the statement.

“I am also begging, on behalf of the Tavern residents (for them) to be treated equal in the eyes of the law,” said Linton, who, repeated his earlier claim that he had been demonised by the police, politicians and the media.

Linton was on the run for months after being named as Jamaica’s most wanted criminal fugitive in November 2010. The former fugitive was named as one of the country’s most dangerous criminals who was wanted in connection with several murders and shootings in the August Town community.

He was nabbed during a massive police/military operation in the tightlyknit, impoverished St Andrew communities of Kintyre and Elletson Flats on January 24 this year in a house in the company of two women.

Police also branded him an extortionist and said he taunted them that they would have to speak to his AK-47 assault rifle before they could take him in.

In an exclusive interview with the Observer in December 2010, Linton denied the AK-47 taunt and said he was no extortionist. He also denied taking part in any murder or shootings for which the police had named him as a person of interest.

Linton is scheduled to stand trial in the High Court Division of the Gun Court on November 8 this year.