Three more witnesses appeared before the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry today, detailing injuries sustained and loses suffered during the security forces operation in May, 2010.
The fifth witness, 49-year-old Collette Robinson, testified that she was shot on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 during the police-military operation in Tivoli Gardens.
Ms. Robinson, says she was shot at about 7am and did not reach a doctor until about 12 hours later at about 7pm.
She says she was shot by a soldier.
Ms Robinson told the enquiry that her upper arm was mangled by the gunshot.
She says she was shot as she stood at her doorway talking to a friend, whom she identified as Nicki.
Ms. Robinson says her first attempt to get to the Kingston Public Hospital was thwarted by a soldier who said she should go back home to die.
She told the Enquiry that she went back home and cried.
She says as her injury got worse, she made another attempt to get to hospital.
She said she heard on the news of a telephone number that persons who had been injured could call for assistance.
She says she called that number several times but no one came to help her.
Ms. Robinson says on her way to hospital the second time, a soldier took her to the Seprod manufacturing plant, in West Kingston, to ask a senior colleague for permission to carry her to hospital.
She appeared very displeased with that, lamenting that she could have died during that journey.
She says she eventually spent two weeks in hospital, where she was treated and released.
Ms Robinson says she’s been unable to work since she was shot in 2010, noting that she still feels pain in the arm.
She says when she was released from hospital and went back home, she noticed that her house was ransacked.
Ms Robinson says her daughter told her soldiers had rampaged through the house.
She says $30,000, which she’d hidden beneath a mattress was also missing. Money she was saving to buy a fridge.
Ms. Robinson says she’s yet to receive compensation for losses suffered.
Meanwhile, another witness Troy Palmer told the enquiry that residents of Tivoli Gardens blocked sections of the community, to thwart the efforts of members of the security forces hunting for Christopher Dudus Coke.
In response to a question from the attorney for the Jamaica Defence Force, Linton Gordon, Mr. Palmer said the residents blocked the road, because they were protecting ‘God’.
Mr. Palmer then stated that the person who was being protected was Michael Coke.
Michael is the middle name of Christopher Coke.
Attorney Linton Gordon and before him Troy Palmer, a witness at the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry.
But under re-examination by attorney, Miguel Lorne, Mr. Palmer said that he was not telling the enquiry that Christopher Coke was God.
And the Chairman of the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry, Justice David Simmons, this morning served notice that while lawyers are allowed to carry out probing cross-examination, he will not allow witnesses to be badgered at the proceedings.
Since the enquiry began on Monday, witnesses have at times reacted angrily to intense questioning from lawyers representing the security forces.
This morning MP for the constituency, Desmond McKenzie, said he’d be seeking audience with Justice Minister, Senator Mark Golding concerning the treatment of witnesses at the enquiry.
Justice Simmons addressed the issue this morning, prompted by a comment from the attorney for the Commission, Garth McBean.
Justice Simmons suggested that some witnesses may have over reacted to probing questions.
Justice David Simmons, Chairman of the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry speaking this morning.
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