‘They deserve to die’ - Fathers in pain want death penalty for persons who murder women and children

March 30, 2021
4. Lloyd Deen, the father of Jasmine Deen.
4. Lloyd Deen, the father of Jasmine Deen.
1. A protester holds up a poster of Ananda Dean, an 11-year-old who was sexually abused and slain in 2008.
1. A protester holds up a poster of Ananda Dean, an 11-year-old who was sexually abused and slain in 2008.
3. Jasmine Deen
3. Jasmine Deen
2. Khanice Jackson
2. Khanice Jackson
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Lloyd Deen and Richard Dean are two men who know the pain of losing their daughters. Lloyd's daughter, Jasmine Deen, a visually impaired student of The University of the West Indies, has been missing for over a year. Richard's 11-year-old daughter, Ananda, was found dead in 2008.

Both men are angered by the tragic way in which Khanice Jackson, 20, a resident of Independence City, Portmore, died last week. Her body was found in an open lot beside the Portmore fishing village a day after she was reported missing.

Lloyd and Richard told THE STAR that persons who have been convicted of raping and killing women and children should be put to death.

"Any man weh trouble the youths or woman fi heng, you cyah make dem man deh go nowhere back pon the streets. No solution nuh deh fi dem more than kill them because dem a animal so deal with them like animal," Lloyd told THE STAR.

Richard is in agreement. "We put in a lot into raising our kids to become something in this world and then somebody just come and take them from us. They don't deserve to live, living off taxpayers' money when they kill our future."

At least one lawmaker, Robert Miller, the member of parliament for St Catherine South East, has called for Jackson's killer to get the death penalty.

"As a father, I can only imagine the pain that her parents and family are feeling at this moment. I am aware that the death penalty has not been used in Jamaica since 1988; however, it is my sincere belief that incarceration is not sufficient punishment for such evil acts. Criminals who perpetrate such crimes should be made to face the death penalty," Miller said.

Police have taken a 50-year-old man in custody in connection with Jackson's disappearance and subsequent murder.

Richard, who has been on a campaign for the protection of women and children since the death of Ananda, said that Jackson's death hit him hard.

"When I hear about Khanice, it bring back memories and traumatise me all over again. It has been 13 years and I still think about Ananda Dean. She was just a perfect little girl, sincere, loving, jovial, and somebody just come and cut her life short," he said.

"I wouldn't want anyone to suffer the way the way I am, and I know just what that girl mother is going through right now. These people don't have heart. How can you take somebody child and kill them like that? They deserve to die," Richard stressed.

Likewise Lloyd, who is still clinging on to hope that he will find Jasmine, said hearing of Khanice's story took him to a dark place.

"When me hear them ting deh it make me fret even more because all type a ting a go through me head," he said. "Me still nah give up hope fi find my daughter because me know me affi find her. Right now me hurt," Lloyd said.

The only breakthrough in Jasmine's case was last June when two men, Gregory Wright, 36, and Tamar Henry, 40, were arrested. One of the men was captured on CCTV footage using her bank card at an ATM.

"Me just wah find the man wah take my pickney enuh, and push him out, because them man deh nuffi get no 20-year. Them must not live to come back a road and do the same thing," Lloyd told THE STAR.

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