Policemen patrol a section of Newland road in Portmore, St. Catherine after several residents mounted roadbloacks to protest a fatal shooting in the area yesterday. - Fabian Ledgister

By Fabian Ledgister, Freelance Reporter

Cries for justice and smoke from burning roadblocks filled the air in Cumberland and Newland, Portmore, St. Catherine yesterday, as residents protested an alleged murder by the police.

Several police officers were deployed in the area to clear several recurring roadblocks along Newland road which involved residents stoning police vehicles at the entrance to West Cumberland.

Despite countless eyewitnesses who say the cops killed 19-year-old Roger Smith, police are denying involvement and have recorded the incident as a standard murder. One of several eyewitnesses, who chose anonymity in fear of the alleged 'rogue cops', recounted the incident with The STAR.

"Dem (rogue cops) a circle from night in a white Kingfish (recent model Corolla), an' dem draw down pon some yout' earlier who run from dem. Roger a walk to him yard an' him see di yout' dem a run suh him run too," said the eyewitness.

"Him did ben' (upset) seh him afi run when him neva do nothing, suh him seh him nah run again. 'Bout 12:30 (a.m.), dem ketch him pon di road again an' him put him han' ina di air suh, an a bear shot reach him," said the eyewitness.

Other residents pointed out that the officers later picked up their spent shells.

According to the Caymanas police however, at about midnight., Thursday they responded to gunshots being fired in the area, where the body of Smith was found with gunshot wounds to the chest, hand, and leg. No spent shells were found at the scene.

Unfortunate affairs

Sub-officer in charge of the station, Sergeant Javis Pounall, confirmed that he heard of the damning allegations but stated, "This is an unfortunate situation, and the matter will be fully investigated by ourselves and the B.S.I. The officers I spoke with said there was a murder there last night at that location, and they are denying accusations by residents."

Regardless of the outcome of investigations though, little can soothe the grieving family. "Mi feel a way. A sleep mi a sleep wen dem tell me that my son is dead. Him nuh even carry a knife pon him suh why dem kill him?" asked Smith's father, Nimrod Smith.

Residents eventually abandoned the protest action at 3 p.m.