Minister pleads for info on slain teen’s murder

Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, is urging persons to come forward with information that could assist the police in apprehending those responsible for the death of 15-year-old Jamila Cole.

The teen was killed during a home invasion in Cotton Tree district in Albert Town, Trelawny, on Monday.

"[I am] encouraging people to tell what they know. I am telling them that if they don't say it, the crime will probably not be solved. The responsibility of all of us across Jamaica is really to be our brother's keeper and not to be so afraid that we don't come forward with what we know," the minister said. Williams led a team from the ministry on a visit to the community yesterday, where she sought to console the family of the teen, who was a grade 10 student at Troy High School in the parish. Jamilia's mother and cousin were also severely beaten during the incident and remain hospitalised.

Williams noted that Jamilia was an intelligent student who displayed dedication and commitment to her studies, and with her untimely death, "Jamaica has been deprived of the potential of one of its promising youth".

"We need this crime solved. We need somebody to be held accountable," said Williams.

"You have a 15-year-old that's dead. You have a mother in the hospital [and] I understand she doesn't even know why she's there, and you have another family member that is hurt. Of course, think of how this has split apart a family, a community. So, we call on anyone with any information that you have -- be brave, step forward," she pleaded.

Counsellors, safety and security personnel and other members of the ministry's Region 3 are providing grief counselling and support for the family and community members.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, who is also the member of parliament for South Trelawny, was also providing support to the family on Tuesday.

The Trelawny police continue to gather evidence and interview individuals, and are also imploring persons to come forward with information.