Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams has condemned the attack on a mother, her daughter and another female relative in Albert Town, Trelawny on Sunday, as another dark chapter in the spate of violent attacks on residents.
The minister expressed particular sadness at the subsequent death of 15-year-old Jamila Cole, a student at Troy High School in the parish, who succumbed to injuries she received during the attack.
In condemning the attack on the family, Williams said no alleged prior dispute or arguments can justify the barbaric and wanton violent attack on the mother and the two girls.
Jamila’s father, Shirley Cole, believes the attack on the family is linked to a domestic dispute.
“It is heart-rending that at a time when Jamaicans are supposed to be reflecting on our achievements as an independent nation that criminal elements are bent on carrying out devious acts of violence,” Williams said.
“This is another tragic attack on the vulnerable in our society, and we must play our part to ensure that the guilty do not go unpunished,” she added while appealing for anyone with information that can assist the police with their investigations to provide it quickly.
Meanwhile, the police have indicated that a person of interest has been taken into custody in connection with the home invasion and subsequent killing of Jamila. The police are also appealing to the public for assistance in bringing those responsible for the heinous crime to justice.
Jamila’s 39-year-old mother and her 17-year-old cousin were also brutally attacked by the intruders who reportedly used pieces of board to inflict a vicious beating to the females.
The mother remains in hospital in serious condition.
