Khajeel's murder turns model case

Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer

THE POLICE's handling of the Khajeel Mais case has become the model to be used by investigators before they release the names of criminal suspects as persons of interest.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ealan Powell admitted yesterday that the change was made because of public outcry over the perceived double standard in the way the Mais case was handled compared to other cases.

"We are not going to be releasing the names of persons of interest until we make sure we have covered all the bases," Powell said.

"We are here to serve the public, and they have said they want us to use this approach, and that's what we are going to do," he added.

Mais, a 17-year-old sixth-form student of Kingston College, was killed when the driver of a BMX X6 allegedly opened fire on the taxi he was travelling in after it collided with the luxury vehicle.

• ... to be buried today

KHAJEEL MAIS, the 17-year-old Kingston College student whose untimely death has generated a wave of emotions islandwide, is to be buried today.

A thanksgiving ceremony will be held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral beginning at 1:30 p.m.

On July 1, the driver of a BMW X6 allegedly shot Mais after his sport utility vehicle collided with the taxi in which the teenager was travelling.

The driver of the X6 allegedly alighted from the vehicle and fired at the taxi and Mais was hit.

A second autopsy confirmed that Mais was killed by a gunshot to the head.

The driver of the BMW X6, who has been in police custody since Monday, is to appear in an identification parade early next week.