By ANDREA DOWNER, Staff ReporterIT WAS A heart attack, not dog bites, that killed 81-year-old Amy Murphy at the Golden Age home in East Kingston in January this year according to the autopsy report.
But less than 24 hours after Amy's death, a campaign which ended with the execution of scores of dog suspects, was undertaken by the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA).
It was then assumed that dogs had mauled the helpless golden ager to death.
However, the results of an autopsy performed by a Government pathologist states that Amy died from "Acute Myocardial Insufficiency" or a heart attack, Deputy Superintendent Michael Ellis told THE STAR.
Amy was discovered on the compound of the home at approximately 5:30 a.m. on January 22, 2004. THE STAR was told that a pack of nearly 200 dogs which frequented the compound were responsible for her death.
The day after the death a crew from the JSPCA assisted by employees of Guardsman Security, rounded up scores of dogs and killed them with lethal injections of Euthanol.
Pamela Lawson, general manager of the JSPCA, said she does not feel that the dogs' death were unjustified, even though the post mortem findings have absolved them of the crime. She said she was acting on a request by the Government of Jamaica to remove the animals by "whatever means."
Annmarie Mittoo, public relations officer at the Ministry of Local Government, said following Murphy's death, the Government issued a release requesting that the dogs be removed in "the most humane way possible."
She said despite the autopsy's findings, the Government is satisfied that the persons who put the dogs to death are professionals and that the dogs were gotten rid of in the most humane way possible.
Following Murphy's death, the Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government, asked that the home carry out an investigation to determine if she died as a result of the home's negligence.
When asked, Mittoo told THE STAR that the home concluded their investigations some time ago and submitted its findings to the Ministry. She said, however, that she could not disclose the findings, as that could compromise the Government's position should Murphy's family decide to take legal action.
Questions had been raised regarding how Murphy, who THE STAR understands was being treated at the Bellevue Hospital, was able to be outside of her room alone that early in the morning. It was also unclear why Murphy was not taken for treatment to St. Joseph's Hospital which is separated from the home by only a perimeter fence.
The police intend to submit the files to the coroner and the Director of Public Prosecutions office.
Despite several attempts, THE STAR was unable to reach Murphy's family for a comment.
