Cornwall Courts wants wall built after resident killed

Following the murder of one of their beloved community members last Saturday, concerned residents of Cornwall Courts in Montego Bay, St James are calling on the National Housing Trust to erect a wall to separate them from the volatile Salt Spring area.

The residents said that the deceased, who they identified as 56-year-old Sydele Malcolm, affectionately called 'Sibble', of St Lucia Crescent, was shot and killed by armed robbers who broke into her family home.

One man, who hails from Salt Spring, has since been taken into custody in connection to her death; but his identity is being withheld pending further investigation.

Reports by the Montego Hills police are that about 3:15 a.m., Malcolm and other family members were asleep when they were awoken by strange sounds coming from a section of the house.

The occupants went to investigate and came face to face with a group of armed men who had broken into the house, and were stealing items.

The men held the family members at gunpoint, but Malcolm stabbed one of the men after they got involved in a tussle.

The wounded gunman opened fire hitting Malcolm multiple times to her upper body before fleeing the scene.

Suspect was apprehended

Malcolm died after being rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital. The incident was reported to the police and following an investigation, the suspect was apprehended at hospital after he later turned up for medical attention.

Meanwhile, Floyd Hitchman, president of the Cornwall Courts Citizen Association, told THE STAR that a wall would not be a bad idea, but felt it would be useless without the proper security measures.

"Last night (Sunday), we had a community meeting over the unfortunate incident, and we all share the family's grief and send our condolences to the entire family," Hitchman said.

"The neighbouring community of Salt Spring has always posed a threat to us, and even before the construction of that section of the housing scheme, several robberies had been taking place, so that particular area had always been a prime target for robbers."

He added: "I think the best approach is to revitalise the Neighbourhood Watch and the Citizen Association. We as residents must create a bond with each other, and each one, becomes their brothers' keeper. "