Human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), is once again raising concern about the time it takes the families of persons killed by the police, to get justice.
Executive Director of JFJ, Dr. Carolyn Gomes, said cases continue to languish in the Coroner’s court and that even when rulings are made by the court, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) usually takes a long time to act.
Dr. Gomes was speaking against the background of the ruling on Tuesday that Special Constable Dwayne Hoilette, is to be charged for the 2007 death of Trevor Anderson.
Anderson was shot under controversial circumstances, with eyewitnesses claiming he was deliberately killed while the police claimed he was accidentally shot, when a gun went off accidentally.
Tuesday’s verdict in the coroner’s court means Constable Hoilette will have to answer to the charge of manslaughter in the Supreme Court.
However, Dr. Gomes is now calling for the Office of the DPP to prioritise the case given it has been in the coroner’s court for more than three years.
Dr. Gomes said the delay in administering justice is a breach of constitutional rights.
She is convinced the Office of the DPP can expedite the matter, if it is so inclined.
