By Byron McDaniel, STAR Writer

Walderston

A funeral service that was supposed to be peaceful turned into confusion on Easter Sunday afternoon when a riot broke out as onlookers protested against the burial of the deceased who they claimed was an alleged homosexual.

The incident took place at the True Vine True Holiness Church at Battersea near Mandeville forcing the police to fire shots to restore order. The church was damaged during the protest.

Pastor of the church Rev. Amos Campbell, was about to conclude the funeral service of a Mandeville businessman when stones and other missiles were hurdled at the church by the angry mob which objected that "no b .... man" should be 'churched' there, and the effeminate male mourners from Kingston, Montego Bay and elsewhere were barefaced and brazen in their appearances.

"Mr. Reporter, a hole heap a 'b.. man' cum yah. Dem have on ooman clothes, lipstick, fingernail polish and braid hair. Mr. Reporter, a pure war," said a female onlooker.

With fire in her eyes she said, "A Mrs. Lyn carry de body cum yah, but a don't know if it bury at Mrs. Lyn. Police a fi fire shot, yuh nu si," she said.

Human right

Pastor Campbell told The Star, "we were conducting the funeral just like any other funeral. Every human being has a right to his or her own lifestyle, and I am disappointed with the behaviour of the people."

The pastor added: "If we were committing the body of an adulterer, murderer, rapist or child molester there would be no problem. I think the problem stems from the people who came to the funeral and the way they were dressed, and they have a right to dress as they want to," said the pastor.

The body of the 30-year-old man, who was allegedly killed by a male friend, on March 18, was eventually interred at the Oakland Cemetery that afternoon. In custody on a charge of murder is 22-year-old Ziggy Malcolm, a labourer of a Kingston address.