Violence disrupts burial

A policeman was injured and two women arrested as mourners and lawmen clashed during yesterday's burial, at Dovecot Memorial Gardens in St Catherine, of alleged Clansman gang member Rohan 'Jay Jay' Jennings.

One of the women, 40-year-old domestic helper Sophia King of Hopeful Village, Spanish Town, was charged with unlawful wounding, disorderly conduct, assaulting a policeman and resisting arrest. The other woman was released.

Police reports are that King, who is Jennings mother, confronted and assaulted the policeman after she was accosted for allegedly throwing missiles in the lawmen's direction.

According to the Spanish Town police, about 3 p.m., a team was at Dovecot monitoring the funeral proceedings when the women and other persons started to hurl missiles and verbal abuse in their direction.

The police fired warning shots to ward off the angry group, sending the mourners scampering for cover.

The women resisted efforts by police personnel to arrest them, resulting in a constable sustaining scratches to his throat.

Both women were taken into custody where King was charged and the other female released.

The police told The Gleaner that the the funeral was being closely watched to prevent reprisals from Jennings cronies who had threatened to retaliate against law enforcement.

"The police are aware of the high threat level. Therefore, we have to remain proactive," said Senior Superintendent Anthony Castelle of the St Catherine North Division.

Jennings was shot and killed by the police on March 7 in an alleged shoot-out along the Spring Village main road in St Catherine.

- Rasbert Turner