Soldier charged in tragic death of Denham Town resident

Relatives of Horaine Glenn are hoping they will receive closure in the coming months, following a recent ruling by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) that a soldier be charged in his death.

Reports are that on April 16, 2022, Glenn was shot and killed following an alleged confrontation with members of the Jamaica Defence Force. This incident reportedly took place around 6:20 p.m. on Charles Street in Kingston. It sparked a series of furious protests the following day as residents told the media that Glenn was the victim of a "cold-blooded murder". The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) probed the circumstances of Glenn's death and made a recommendation to the ODPP for charges to be laid. INDECOM noted that the soldier was charged in May.

When THE STAR visited Charles Street yesterday afternoon, a portrait to honour Glenn was painted outside of the yard where he was shot and killed. His mother was steps away from the spot where her son took his last breath. As she sat on an old fridge close to the yard, she told THE STAR that she firmly believed he was murdered because he was not a "criminal or troublemaker". She also said that she was pleased that the soldier who allegedly shot her son was finally charged.

"Mi know dem aguh find him guilty. Mi know seh me a guh get justice fi mi son," the grieving mother said, adding that she believes the sole reason for the soldier's arrest was because of how the residents rallied alongside her in her plea for justice.

"Base pan how wi guh bout it, dem did afi investigate because di people dem come in a di streets and demonstrate, enuh, all up a [Up Park] Camp dem guh," she said.

She also told THE STAR that it was a good feeling to see her community's support amid her loss and the support only shows the innocence of her son.

"If mi son a neva good yute, suh much people wouldn't come inna di streets and a bawl fi justice. Horaine never gi trouble, him nuh gi problem. Him helpful and good wid everybody," she said.

There to console her was Nesa Morgan, the great-grandmother of Glenn's 15-year-old child. She told the news team that what hurts her most about his death is that her great-grandson is still unable to cope with the loss.

"Him (Glenn) and him son did very close, and to this day wi afi a get counselling fi him because mi nah deal wid it well," said Morgan.