PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release JFJ Delighted over Long-Awaited Verdict in the Hapete Henry Case

Friday, March 5, 2010, Kingston, Jamaica - Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is very elated and relieved that a twelve-year wait for a verdict in the Hapete Henry case has FINALLY arrived. A Coroner’s Jury recently found that the police officer, who shot and killed Hapete at a football match at the National Stadium in April 1998, was criminally responsible. JFJ is not only thrilled that there is some amount of closure for the family, but is also overjoyed that the verdict handed down is one of Manslaughter, which will allow the accused to be tried at the Circuit Court.

span style="color: black">George Henry, the father of Hapete, was also overwhelmed with joy and relief by the culmination of what had seemed like a never-ending Coroner’s Court process. He and Hapete’s mother had approached JFJ in February 2004 with the hope of receiving help in their search for justice, as they had grown weary of the delays in the court process. The family had devoted many long hours, attended numerous court hearings and three Coroner’s Inquests over the course of 10 long years, to get some determination in their son’s case. Upon hearing the outcome of the Coroner’s Inquest, Mr. Henry was happy that JFJ had stuck with him and his family for all these years and helped to get this positive result.

The Coroner’s Inquest into his son’s death, initiated in 2000, had been plagued by problems systemic to the justice system. It was two years before Hapete Henry’s case reached the Coroner’s Court; it had many stops and starts, having to start anew three times primarily due to recurring absenteeism of witnesses and jurors, the ad hoc setting of court dates, subsequent repetitive adjournments and the appointment of a new Coroner. The case became an example of the backlog and delays plaguing the Coroner’s Court and the inefficient system for subpoenaing witnesses and jurors. However, the matter was finally able to proceed almost seamlessly, when two crucial civilian witnesses were located, summoned and attended court.

JFJ hopes that after this long delay at the Coroner’s Court level, the matter will be expedited with great efficiency at the Circuit Court level so that the family can get complete closure. The case is scheduled to be mentioned in the Circuit Court on May 23, 2010 and JFJ and Hapete’s family will be there to follow the proceedings with the same fervour shown at the Coroner’s Court.

The parents of Hapete Henry deserve justice for their son and the longer justice is delayed, the longer it is denied. When the justice system begins to deliver on its stated mission of “timely delivery of a high standard of justice for all,” then and only then, will the faith of ordinary Jamaicans, like the parents of Hapete Henry, be restored.

For more information contact:

Carolyn Gomes, Executive Director: (876) 755-4524-6/382-8583