Mobbed and Killed for Splashing

There are dark periods in Jamaica’s history that continue to reoccur in cyclical nature. Of note is one that happened on Thursday, October 24, in the community of Ricketts Crescent in the Kingston 13 area. Thirty-year-old Okeef Sewell was mobbed, stabbed and beaten to death after he allegedly splashed a resident while operating a forklift.

Sewell is from a Chisholm Avenue address and it was reported that at approximately 5:50 p.m. during heavy showers, he splashed a resident along Ricketts Crescent. He stopped when he was hit by an object that was thrown by a resident. During the altercation, it was reported that Sewell was pounced on by other community members who stabbed him in the back, while he was floored. On the ground helpless, they threw blocks on Sewell’s head.

He was pronounced dead at the Kingston Public Hospital later that evening. The St. Andrew South police announced that a man known as ‘Conman’ or ‘Andrew’ was a lead person of interest. The police are encouraging him to turn himself in immediately, for questioning.

This incident has led to calls by the Peace Management Initiative for people to skillfully and peacefully handle their disputes. Director of the PMI, Damion Hutchinson, has encouraged citizens to not resort to ‘jungle justice’ to solve their issues.

One similar incident was that of residents in Sterling Castle after a man was attacked and set alight by an angry mob. They believed that the man was in connection with the rape and murder of eight-year-old Shantae Skyers.

How did we reach here? How did conflict resolution involve stoning, stabbing, chopping and killing someone for a small misdemeanour?

There is no longer the need to use mediation, counselling or carefully planned steps to resolve issues.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Statistics from January 1 – October 19, 2019, there have been 300 reported cases of aggravated assault crimes, which address crimes of felonious wounding, assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and wounding with intent that does not involve a firearm. So far, there have been 108 murders with the use of machetes, knives, guns and other implements.

Jamaica Constabulary Force Logo

These numbers speak to the avenues that people will take to harm another person. The majority of arguments start with someone who is reacting to unfair treatment caused by another person. Dispute resolution should be taught in schools so that people will learn how to handle problems and conflicts. Strategising what is the best step towards forgiveness rather than plotting how to take a person’s life.

Jamaica would be a better place if people were not so angry. Sometimes, the anger isn’t even directed at the action of another individual but, rather at the individual and themselves. This in turn leads to people, as the Jamaican saying goes ‘taking out their problems on someone’.

Because look at this situation for example, Sewell, whether by accident or intentionally, splashed a resident with water and the first reaction of someone is to aim a missile at Sewell. Then other residents joined in and literally butchered him on the spot. This would beg the question as to why they had so much anger towards Sewell. Or was it that they had hidden intentions to kill him before he committed that act? Was he wanted for whatever reason by a gang leader?

Whatever the reason was, I do not believe that the death of the accused, for something as petty as splashing, should be the first repercussion.

Jamaica, we need to do better.