Alleged gangsters develop skin ailment in jail

Seven alleged members of a west Kingston-based gang are expected to receive medical treatment for a skin condition they claim to have developed since being placed in a police lock-up.

The men, Andrew Williams, Kewonie Howell, Nijay Wright, Rohan Tomblinson, Carlos Johns, Patrick Bishop and Navado Lyons, are among a group of 18 men charged with participating in and being a member of a criminal organisation. Lyons is charged with being the leader of a criminal organisation. The matter was heard in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court last Thursday.

Submissions made by attorney-at-law Abina Morris before Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell, urged that the men receive medical treatment as they have bumps, boils and sores on their skin.

"Mr Lyons has it the worst, Your Honour. It's all over their bodies," Morris said. He is the legal representative for Williams, Howell and Wright.

"Did you have the skin condition before you went in custody?" Burrell asked the men, all of whom answered that they did not. The senior jurist then made an order that the men receive medical attention and treatment for their skin complaints. Burrell adjourned the matter until October 1 at 2 p.m. to facilitate the other accused men being brought before the parish court. The matter will then be transferred to the Home Circuit Court, where jurisdiction in the matter lies.

The other accused, Samuel Grant, Romaine Stewart, Bo Nation, Trayvan Williams, Dante Thompson, Cammar Allen, Rickeem Mohammed, Chevasion McGreachy, Ajay Vickers, Andre Brown and Kevin Gayle, were not brought before the court last Thursday.