News in brief

LIME visits Holmwood in mourning

Executives from telecommunications firm LIME, joined by local gospel artiste Omari, last Friday travelled to Holmwood Technical High School to share in morning devotion.

Following the staging of a memorial service on Thursday for four students who were tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident, the team led by LIME's head of technical operations and resident pastor Courtney Gordon, shared encouraging words and prayer with the more than 2,000 strong student body.

"We felt duty bound to reach out to the school and the students in what has been a very trying time for them all," said Danielle Savory, Lime public relations officer.

Friday's devotion was the second meeting of its kind at the institution that the LIME team has joined in since the passing of three other students in a separate event a few years ago.

Minor quake felt near Negril

The Seismic Unit at The University of the West Indies has confirmed that there was a minor quake off the coast of Negril, Westmoreland, Saturday afternoon.

The 3.9-magnitude tremor occurred at 2:02 p.m. yesterday and was located approximately eight kilometres offshore, north west of Green Island in Hanover.

The quake had a focal depth of 9.8 kilometres.

Man convicted 10 years after murder

A Home Circuit Court jury has convicted 33-year-old Reckford Maitland, of Linstead, St Catherine, for a murder which was committed 10 years ago.

Maitland was first convicted in July 2007 of the murder of Conroy Llewellyn, of August Town, near Linstead. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve 25 years before parole.

He appealed against his conviction and in July 2010, the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial for him. He was in custody awaiting his second trial.

The Crown represented by Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Maxine Jackson and Crown counsel Kadeen Barnett led evidence at Maitland's trial, which began last week Monday, that on February 23, 2003, Maitland was one of two men who fired shots at the deceased during the incident in question.

Maitland was convicted Friday, but Justice Courtney Daye has put off sentencing until November 8.

Cops once again told 'Shush!'

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have been directed to desist from making any comments to the media or entities outside of the force on internal matters.

Force Orders issued last week warned that officers must refrain from making comments to the media, as "any breach of this directive will be met with the appropriate sanction".

Reiterating the Force's stance on speaking with the media, the Force Orders stated, "a member shall not without the consent of the Commissioner, publish or communicate to the press or any unauthorised individual any matter pertaining to the Force or any other matter in which such member is involved".

In addition, the orders also indicated that JCF members have been making complaints and voicing their concerns to members of parliament, Government ministers, other government bodies and external entities, which they have been barred from doing.

A member shall not, without the consent of the Commissioner, publish or communicate to the press.