JAMAICANS For Justice (JFJ) has said it welcomes Wednesday’s Coroner’s Court jury verdict, which said charges of murder be laid against two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force implicated in the 2007 killing of a father and son in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

“JFJ is pleased that the family of Winston Malcolm Sr and Winston Malcolm Jr have received some small measure of justice with this verdict,” the rights group said in a release yesterday.

“Given the more than seven years that the case has taken to reach to this point, JFJ hopes that it will be thoroughly and effectively prosecuted to allow some closure to the Malcolm family. Justice too long delayed is justice denied,” the release said.

According to the verdict, Corporal Malica Reid and Constable Omar Simmons should be charged with murder for the December 21, 2007 killing of the men at a premises on St John’s Road, Spanish Town.

The father and son were killed on during a joint police/military operation.

The inquest into their deaths began before the Island’s Special Coroner in 2011.

The account of the police officers involved suggested that they were immediately met with gunfire upon knocking on a door and identifying themselves. However, eyewitness account, which was supported by Jamaica Defence Force personnel account, contradicted the police’s account, as also did the station diary.

Eyewitnesses gave evidence that police questioned the younger Malcolm inside the house; and the older Malcolm, who was outside of the house, was taken back into the house, after which explosions were heard.

“The fight has been a long one,” the release quoted Harold Malcolm, the brother and uncle of the deceased men.

The release added: “Harold, the three daughters/sisters and other family members of the deceased have suffered terribly.”