KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaican police detained three of their own yesterday after a video surfaced allegedly showing them beating and shooting a suspect to death.Police initially reported that the man stabbed a woman to death and then attacked the officers. They were said to have acted in self-defence.That story changed after the amateur footage, recorded by an unknown eyewitness, was broadcast on several television channels the following night.Police Chief Owen Ellington said the man was apparently unarmed and subdued when he was killed.Ellington praised whoever came forward with the video and said the department deeply regrets the incident.“The entire JCF [Jamaica Constabulary Force] family deeply regrets this incident, and we want to apologise to the family of the person involved and to all decent citizens of Jamaica. “I will take every action necessary to prevent any future occurrence and I am asking citizens to be courageous, strong and alert,” Ellington said.The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) reported that the man killed by the police, Ian Lloyd, attacked them after stabbing Loveta Wilson to death. The CCN reported that while the police were trying to apprehend Lloyd he attacked them with stones and bottles. It said four of the lawmen were injured. “Continuing to unleash his fury, Lloyd stabbed at one of the lawmen and was shot. Both Lloyd and Wilson were taken to the St Ann’s Bay Hospital where they died,” the CCN added.Jamaica has one of the highest rates of police killings in the Western Hemisphere, according to Amnesty International. It also has one of the world’s highest murder rates.Thursday’s killing took place in the town of Buckfield, about 20 miles (30 kilometres) from the resort city of Ocho Rios. (Jamaica Gleaner)
