KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Tivoli Enquiry today saw videos of Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers coming under intense fire from gunmen during the May 2010 operation to apprehend former don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

The videos were shown during the evidence of Major Kevron Henry, who was a commander during the operation.

In a video dated May 24, 2010 – the first day of the operation – sustained and intense gunfire could be heard coming in on the position of the soldiers who had managed to take control of Foxy’s Plaza from gunmen.

Soldiers were seen lying on the roof of the building and what Henry described as the sound of bullets ricocheting off of the walls, could also be heard. The soldiers were still being shot at the following day.

Henry testified that a helicopter came on the day in mention to help identify the position of the gunmen but it too was shot at.

He explained that the gunmen, dressed in white T-shirt and blue jeans, were trying to get into Tivoli Gardens on the evening of the 24th through the Denham Town High School and the wider Denham Town area, including the Oxford market.

He said the gunfire continued throughout the night.

Commissioner Sir David Simmons commented that those criminals would be madmen to want to get into Tivoli Gardens when it was under lockdown by the security forces.

However, attorneys for the JDF and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said that evidence has being given that not all of Tivoli Gardens was under the control of security personnel.

Paul Henry