Call for tighter regulations on 'abortion pill'
published: Sunday | May 18, 2008

Avia Collinder, Sunday Gleaner Writer

SENIOR MEMBERS of the medical profession are concerned that the 'abortion pill' Cytotec is again being abused and are demanding that the Ministry of Health implement tighter regulations for its use.

"Cytotec is sold on the streets of the Corporate Area. I have no idea of the price. They use it for termination of pregnancies. They have no idea of dosage, but women just buy it and take it," a worried Dr Douglas McDonald, senior medical officer of the Victoria Jubilee Hospital tells The Sunday Gleaner.

He says patients only come to Victoria Jubilee Hospital, the main state-run obstetrics institution in the country, when they begin to bleed heavily or haemorrhage.

"Patients say they got the pills themselves and insert them in the vagina," relates McDonald. "They just buy them off the street. The uterus contracts, they start bleeding and then come here when it gets really heavy. If not treated, torrential haemorrhage will result which can lead to death."

Although he has treated many cases, McDonald refutes claims that half of his gynaecology admissions are due to the abuse of the drug. "I would not say that," he states.

not an excuse for abortion

Consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician at Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland, Dr Evon Nepaul, says he has seen the effects of the widespread use and abuse of Cytotec. While confirming that the drug works (to terminate pregnancies), Nepaul emphasises that it should not be used as an excuse for legalising abortions. Tighter regulations, he argues, is the answer.

While McDonald denies knowledge of the involvement of members of the certified medical profession in its unregulated use, Nepaul suggests that some local pharmacies might be culpable. Staff engage in back-door sales without the knowledge of the pharmacist.

Local pharmacists, on the other hand, say that some medical doctors themselves might be performing abortions, using the drug as a means of expelling the foetus, a practice which is currently illegal. An employee of a Corporate Area pharmacy, who requests anonymity, tells The Sunday Gleaner that most private pharmacies have ceased stocking Cytotec because of the illegality of its use.

"When they (clients) come here with prescriptions, I send them to the hospital pharmacy. The doctors are saying that they prescribe the drug for miscarriages. Because we do not want to be participants in any abuse of the drug, we have ceased stocking Cytotec," the pharmacist states.

Another Kingston-based dispensary said it did not stock the drug, but was well aware that it was used for illegal abortions.

Cytotec facts

The likelihood of an abortion occurring when Cytotec is taken orally is only 25 per cent, but the likelihood increases to 40 per cent when the pill is inserted vaginally.

Manufactured by the American firm G.D. Searle for ulcers, Cytotec, among gynaecologists and obstetricians, is considered to be a wonder drug for ripening the cervix.

In small amounts, 20-50 micrograms, it is is used to induce labour where the natural process lags or where its use is otherwise indicated.

Manufacturer G.D. Searle released information (nrlc.org/ru486/randy.html) saying it received reports of "serious adverse events" with off-label uses of prostaglandin Cytotec and that the company was opposed to its use for abortion.

Searle promotes Cytotec to prevent gastric ulcers among people, such as those suffering from arthritis, who have to take a lot of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The company states that despite its widespread use in conjunction with RU486 (the 'abortion' pill), it opposes this.

Labels warn that it is not to be used by women who are pregnant because it can cause an abortion.

Manufacturers note that the drug Cytotec has an abortifacient property which can cause miscarriages, and is often associated with potentially dangerous bleeding, which may result in "infertility, congenital anomalies and even death in women".

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology suggests that the pill, issued in small amounts of 50 mcg in the US, helps to induce labour

Former head of the Medical Association of Jamaica and senior consultant gynaecologist, Dr Errol Daley, says the abuse of the drug Cytotec is just one manifestation of the need to quickly legalise abortions and train the doctors who perform them.

"The majority of people doing abortions are not properly trained and that is so because the law does not permit abortions," Daley tells The Sunday Gleaner. "Because the law forbids abortion, all the people who do abortions are virtually self-trained and because of that, there has been abuse of all kinds of things, including Cytotec abuse," he adds.

death or severe problems

According to Daley, one quarter of abortions done locally are performed unsafely, a fact which results in "death or severe problems, including bleeding, infection, infertility, later miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies".

"Maternal mortality is not high, but we do not hear about those who are alive but suffer tremendously," the gynaecologist states, adding "training is not a complex issue. The Ministry of Health should pursue this."

Noting that it was the poor who resorted to quacks and buying the 'white pill', or Cytotec, on the street, Daley states: "It is the responsibility of Government to provide places where abortions are available safely. We will never be able to prevent abortions from happening. What we need to do is provide safety. The law needs to be looked at carefully."

not done safely

He notes that in countries which allow abortion, "It is done safely because people are trained. Here, the doctors are self-trained, and a lot of other people are doing abortions who are not doctors. I have had several encounters. Women also try to induce abortions on themselves, using unsafe methods."

The number of unwanted pregnancies globally is a constant and predictable figure (180 unwanted pregnancies per 1,000), says Daley, who believes that the greater use of contraception should be promoted.

"Whether we like it or not, women who have an unwanted pregnancy will abort. It is our responsibility to see that it be done safely. Women do it because they have no other option," he argues.

According to Daley, women do not generally use abortion as a contraceptive method. "That is not true in my over 30 years of experience. When they know they cannot support or have a child, they are going to abort it, even if it involves unsafe methods," he says. "The consequences for those who do it unsafely is that they might lose their ability to have children and do not heal properly."

"We have to provide a way in which it (abortion) can be safely done. Abortionists need training and it is the Government's responsibility to decide who, when, where and up to what time in pregnancy. We cannot have women resorting to unsafe procedures which sometimes kill them," the gynaecologist emphasises.

PEACEMAKING efforts in the volatile community of August Town in St Andrew were yesterday cut short, after early afternoon gunshots forced the rescheduling of a meeting that would have allowed residents of five communities to sit down and discuss the violence rocking the area.

The gunshots were said to have been a "gun salute" at the funeral for Mark Hamilton, of Goldsmith Villa, who was killed by the police.

Community officials, including the police, were already assembling for the meeting, which should have started at 3:30 pm, but following the "salute" decided they would not take any chances.

President of the August Town Citizens Association Kenneth Wilson said the prevailing situation was not in the best interest of the community, and so the meeting was rescheduled.

"It has been rescheduled for this Wednesday at the August Town Community Centre, at 4:00 pm," Wilson said.
Over the last couple of weeks, the community has been under siege, as gang violence continues to claim the lives of several persons.

HONOLULU - Bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman's TV show will return to the air this summer, months after it was pulled when the reality star used a racial slur in a profanity-laced tirade.

Filming has begun on the fifth season, according to executives with A&E, the cable network that broadcast "Dog the Bounty Hunter." Reruns of the show will start June 25, with new episodes, including ones from the fourth season that have not previously aired, coming a few weeks later.

The show features Chapman and crew chasing down bail jumpers in Hawaii and other states. It was pulled from the air in November when Chapman was heard in a taped phone conversation using a racial slur in reference to his son's girlfriend, who is black.

The Chapman family, A&E executives and a representative from a civil rights organization were part of a carefully choreographed press conference Wednesday to announce the relaunch of the show.

The message: Chapman deserves a second chance.

"It's not about ratings," A&E spokesman Michael Feeney said. "We know his heart. We know him and know he's not a racist."

Scott Lonker, vice president nonfiction and alternative programming at A&E, said viewer demand for the show also weighed in the decision.

Niger Innis, national chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality, said Chapman's use of the racial slur was wrong. But he noted that Chapman "took ownership of the harm it caused" and "sought to turn his life around."

Alphonso Braggs, Hawaii chapter president of the NAACP, disagreed, saying Chapman got off lightly for behavior that is "absolutely unacceptable."

"If individuals see they are able to behave inappropriately with little or no consequence, they will continue that pattern," he said.

Chapman, in his trademark sunglasses and badge, signed a copy of his book, "You Can Run But You Can't Hide" at the media-only event and said he was "ashamed" by his racial comments.

He said he has received counseling and reached out to blacks, speaking at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event and participating in a toy drive.

"There was one perfect person, and they called him Jesus Christ," Chapman said. "You have to ... realize that everyone is human, and you can err."

His wife, Beth, said her husband's use of the racial slur was not a reflection of the family's feelings and vowed it would not set them back.

"We're Chapmans, and we're fighters," she said. "And brother, we're not going to settle in our setbacks. We're going to have a comeback."

May 16, 2008 5:42 PM

ABC News' Kevin Chupka Reports: Former GOP hopeful and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is back in the news this week, making a splash when he took a hit at Senator Barack Obama during the annual National Rifle Association meeting.

Huckabee made an off-color joke during his speech in Louisville, Kentucky, when a loud bang was heard off-stage.

"That was Barack Obama," Huckabee quipped, "He Just tripped off a chair.  He was getting ready to speak.  Somebody aimed a gun at him and hehe dove for the floor."

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

Huckabee was always quick on his feet on the campaign trail.  There was the time the lights went out in the auditorium and he suggested it was a sign from God to wrap up his speech, or the time a cell phone
rang in the audience and Huckabee suggested it might be a McCain supporter calling to tell him to leave the race.  But, did this one cross the line?  After all, a joke about Obama's safety runs a fine line given that Obama accepted Secret Service protection quite early in the race for fear of violence against him. 

The question remains, how might this effect Huckabee's chances at landing the coveted slot at the bottom of the GOP ticket?  Earlier in the week, a U.S. News and World Report blog quoted a top McCain fundraiser as saying Huckabee topped the list for potential GOP vice presidential candidates.  After a week of buzz pertaining to just such a possibility, did Huckabee shoot himself in the foot today in front of the NRA?  Perhaps only John McCain knows.

Calls to the Huckabee camp for comment were not immediately returned.

Portmore Suss

From Left: D'Angel, Courtney John, Stacious and Nesbeth

Portmore, dem a sprinkle dem iniquity, and dem a write mi name pon parchment paper, but dem caan stop me. Right now, mi say Sharlene Suss to the world and people haffi just see mi a prosper and love it up. Suh if unno nuh si or here from me in a long while, memba mi gone pon a global tour on greena pasture. SUSS Time!

'GULLYSIDE' A RUN HOT

What a way Cassava Piece a run hot - six dead inna four day. Yu nuh hear wah I-Octane say, tink oonu see no *la*hd ah run yet? The police dem a work mucky, the man dem who kill the two yute ah Constant Spring Road run up inna some police and dem done dem same time. Retribution that name. Nuff people surprise, especially about the one who did have on the wig. Dem did have him as jokify yute, but him no skin teeth when it come fi mek skin burn. People, why the war caan done?

ONE THIRD SHOT BACK

A tell unno sey dem youth yah hard. Mi sey dem ansa X-ALE song and it ago hard. Di bowy Miguel a big DJ, bout him bad from him clothes to socks. X-ALE a wonda wat unno goin to sey nex. Mek wi si who badda dan who. People, a need unno fi follow dis yah one yah and help mi choose.

NESBETH GETS A NEW IMAGE

Mi hear say Nesbeth ah get himself new image and ting. The man start give them the European dressing now with square-toe shoes and pro-fessional locks inna hair and ting, real star ting. The man song Guns Out a get crazy airplay pon ZIP and Hitz, and mi hear say a natural play. Arnett Gardens love wah a gwaan. Plus, mi hear say big European tour inna the making. Big up Tameka, and Jeffrey; Free People Enter-tainment to the universe. Flava, yu large.

D'ANGEL AND HER FOUR FRIENDS

Why more artistes never come ah D'Angel and Friends? Is a sabotage ting or what? Only Aisha, LUST, I-Octane and Delly Ranks. No Macka, no Lady G, no CéCile, no Spice; no man, something wrong. The artiste dem no rate her, no Empire, no Alliance, no one from Shocking Vibes; her corner dark fi true. Just D'Angel and her 25 fans dem inna the big club and everybody else ah dying fi it dun so dem can really get down to party.

REGGAE ACADEMY FASION FOUL-UPS

Portmore, how dem say is a high-class event and mi see man a sell peanut inna the venue? That coulda never happen at the foreign Grammys, but still, the show never too bad. Mi haffi big up Josef Bogdanovich who produce the show and Stanbury fi a good job. The fashions were just OK. People say Macka never hot but to me, she mek it. She know about ghetto chic, because the full gold outfit mad, hairstyle sell off proper, even Marcia Griffiths haffi come over to her and big her up. But mi agree say D'Angel never bring her A game, her fashion-icon title in jeopardy. Ifrica never too bad inna the red balloon dress and was one of the best dressed at the awards. Professor Carolyn Cooper looked frumpy in that brown outfit complete with a ghastly brown hat with frills. Toots Hibbert, mi love the pimp suit, the man inna one wicked royal purple suit that belong at the annual Pimp of the Year awards inna LA. Memba mi tell yu.

FLARE STEPS OUT

What a way Flare, aka Lexi, ah step out and do her own thing. She have her own Mega Top Ten Countdown and she a broadcast it pon Youtube. Nobody caan tell her say she nuh have her owna station. How dem a go stop her now.

STACIOUS TO THE WORLD

Portmore love how Stacious ah step out pon dem fi 2008. Her new video, Falling Down on John John's Shoot Out riddim, ah shot hard. Ah Jay Wil direct it and a crazy Range Rover inna it, and even the gangster for life deejay Mavado mek a special cameo appearance inna the video. Doc Mac Entertainment the ting de right now. But the whole world waan know when yu a go clash Macka Diamond, ah that Portmore waan see, memba.

RISE OF LIL LION

What a way Lil Lion gwaan like him a big man. Everybody say him a 12 going on 30 the way him act, and worse now, him song, Age Is Just a Number, wid Barbee, look like it ah tek off inna New York. Him get show at Amazura the other day and dem want him back. Jimmy, yu large! When yu plan fi shoot the video? Mel-Shar Entertainment to the world!

RAFFLE UP AND PICK

Ja Du from Star girls, how yu have so much babyfather? But the one from Naggo Head say anno him, the one from Braeton say anno him. What a calamity! Look like yu need fi go pon Maury fi run a DNA.

FLAMZE PLANNING BIG THINGS

What is this mi ah hear from the grapevine? DJ Flamze, when we get the scoop, we nah go ramp fi spill the coffee. Mi love how yu show a gwaan wicked and the new hairstyle a cramp dem. An nuh stop rinse di X-ALE. Jus wait till yuh get di One Thrid fi put wit it.

COURTNEY JOHN FOR SYMPHONY SHOW

What a way the singer step inna the big leagues with a spot on the second staging of Symphony Under the Stars on March 15th. Fi a garrison man, the man fashion sense impeccable, him song dem a sell, him album de number twice behind Shaggy on the album charts, Baby Tonight ah play hard ah New York. Look out for him at the Village on March 25th and is also a headliner on Portland Splash on March 29th.

QUESTION TIME

Earthworm, the whole ah Montego Bay waan know when yu a go drop the video for She's My Baby?

How D'Angel and Delly Ranks get back so close? The man support her when Bounty drop har, and now again when Beenie drop har. Him write her hit song dem. What a wonderful friendship! What yu tink, Portmore?

Was Emily Crooks flirting with Vybz Kartel during Impact this week?

SHOUT-OUTS

Big up mi family Nigel Anthony who celebrates his birthday today inna Florida. Big up Melissa who is a part of the Caribbean Night of festivities at Lillian's Restaurant on the UTECH Campus. The Series will come to an end on March 28 with French Night. Big up NEERG Music that ah put out the big bad Premiere riddim next week. Big up Mumma Latty who ah perform wid the Magnum Girls at Follow Di Arrow. Special big up to Yard a Love and Teflon family, the Tads album ah go shot.

 

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Police say an employee of Hungry Howie's Pizza broke into the restaurant where he worked.   They knew it was him, because he was still wearing his Hungry Howie's uniform.

 Friday Juice - Was Fantan Framed?

Dancers let loose at Passa Passa


Getting jiggy to the music at Passa Passa, held on Spanish Town Road, on Wednesday, May 14.

It's the haven for all dancers. The weekly street dance Passa Passa, held along Spanish Town Road, always brings out dancers in all their numbers and glory.

Ice, Sadeke, Ding Dong and the Ravers Clavers, Sample Six, Timeless, MOB, Chi Ching Ching, Latesha, Dance Xpressionz, John Hype and many others can always be found at Passa Passa, dancing away to the musical selections of Swatch International and other selectors.

Dancer Latesha, at one point, appeared to be having a fit, as she jiggled up her body and wined to the ground, with a perplexed look on her face.

There were still the regular antics that are known to take place at Passa Passa. Male dancers lifting their female counterparts off their feet and spinning them around at high speed, while other females played it safe and simply obeyed Beenie Man to Back It Up and Munga to Wine Pon It.

A big Tata truck filled with market goods, along with a few minibuses was in no hurry to pass, as the passengers used the opportunity to feast their eyes on some 'dirty dancing' in the streets.


Pencilman of the Ravers Clavers showing off a few dance moves. - Nathaniel Stewart


These patrons take time out to strike a pose at the event.


D'Angel and dancer John Hype vibing at Passa Passa. - Nathaniel Stewart photos

May 17, 2008 -- South Carolina's mythical "Lizard Man" has been exonerated.

Forensic scientists have proven that a mysterious attack on a Bishopville couple's car that left bite marks and *lo** all over the vehicle was actually perpetrated by a dog.

People in the area have long reported the presence of a large swamp creature, although no proof of its existence has ever been uncovered.

*****

It was quite a shock to two Pennsylvania thieves who tried to pilfer power lines coursing with electricity.

Kevin Lee Lytle, 27, and Daniel Jay Basinger, 24, of Confluence, were seriously hurt - and arrested - trying to cut down the lines.

The incident disrupted power in the area for five hours.

*****

Sandra Dee Martinez, 40, of Washington state, was charged with faking brain cancer to get paid sick leave.

According to investigators, Martinez presented fake letters from a doctor saying she had malignant brain tumors and received $20,000 in paid leave from her job at the state's Department of Social and Health Services.

*****

British police are on alert for a mass pillow fight that organizers have tried to arrange via Facebook.

The proposed fight in the northern city of Leeds comes after a "playful" mass water fight in London caused thousands of dollars in damage.

*****

This is one way to stop the neighbors gossiping.

A Romanian woman - fed up with rumors she was sleeping with all the men in town - had a gynecologist prove she was still a virgin at age 60, and posted the results on her front door.

"There has been some nasty gossip about me," Rodica Trandafir said. "To make such accusations about a woman of my age is disgusting."

Yo me jus read some news pon pac death 2day and it mek me rate the big man even more and me jus waan d pepl dem views pon whos the greatest.me neva include weezy cah him mek couple hard tune but nuh really deserve fi a b compared wid dem man,also oldies like rakim,dre & snoop dogg,ll cool j Big Pun did hard but cudn mek d cut,pepl who only like mek some hits wha did jus soun good like busta dem caan deh pon this and TI,Kanye West,50cent,fabolous,ludacris and jeezy need some more time

NOW b4 u answer

1.if u don't the man dem songs doe answer,cah den u caan give a fair answer
2. when u a choose bear in mind not jus who hav d hardest lyris n flow but also the messages in the song dem do and the image dem did hav and who did live wha dem sing

-- Edited by Bucky at 18:16, 2008-03-19

-- Edited by Bucky at 00:49, 2008-03-21

MADRID, Spain - Spanish authorities say they have arrested five young computer hackers accused of disabling Internet pages run by government agencies in the U.S., Latin America and Asia.

The National Police on Saturday described the suspects as being among the most active hackers on the Internet and said two of them are only 16 years old. The others are 19 or 20.

The group attacked some 21,000 Web pages over the last two years, police said in a statement. The five were arrested this week in Barcelona, Burgos, Malaga and Valencia.

The statement did not identify which government Web sites the suspects are accused of tampering with.

The investigation began in March after the Web page of a Spanish political party, Izquierda Unida, was disabled shortly after Spain's general election on March 9.

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewelyn, on Friday warned of harsh consequences for persons found guilty of intimidating Crown witnesses in the criminal case involving embattled former junior energy minister, Kern Spencer.

"If we get any credible evidence that any witness is being interfered with in this matter, then it will be dealt with," Llewelyn said during the hearing of the fraud case against Spencer, his former personal assistant, Coleen Wright, and businessman Rodney Chin.

However, Llewelyn's warning did not go down well with the defence attorneys, who all considered it a jab at their clients' reputations.

"I am not going to allow Mrs Llewelyn to come in here and cast aspersions on any of our clients," attorney Valerie Neita-Robertson, who represents, Chin, told the presiding magistrate, Glen Brown.

Earlier in the hearing, Llewelyn told the court that the prosecution needed an additional month in order to gather outstanding documents from the police to further assist with the investigations.

"The Crown has served the defence with copies of all the statements we had in our possession. [But] we still have a few documents to receive from the police," she told the court before asking for another mention date to be scheduled in the matter in a month's time.

The defence also objected to having the matter delayed for another month, saying that it was unjustified.

"I am submitting that that amount of time is unreasonable, your honour," attorney Patrick Atkinson, who is representing Spencer, told RM Brown. "Last time they asked for six weeks and your honour gave them seven. Now they are coming back and asking for more time."

The defence attorneys further accused the prosecution of employing delay tactics, arguing that they received the statements from the Crown on Thursday afternoon, and that they still had not received the documents outlining the charges against the three accused.

RM Brown, however, granted Llewelyn's request, telling the defence that the matter did not appear to be ready for trial.
Spencer, Wright and Chin will next appear in court on June 19. All three are facing charges of money laundering, fraud and corruption.

Do think is the Artistes fault or Politicians and local dons fault

-- Edited by dainty_kay at 15:14, 2008-05-16

The Party dem ago hype so be there or be square. Dont miss it or mayb u goin to miss urself

Click to download the flyer or jus click the attachment (yes it works jus click n see)

fever_board_small1.jpg - 1.35MB




-- Edited by Gates at 16:29, 2008-05-18

holla at me let me hear  ur thoughts

A Jamaican teenager who allegedly bludgeoned his mother to death and seriously injured his father with a baseball bat in Baltimore, United States on Tuesday, waived a bail appearance in the Baltimore District Court yesterday.

The boy was charged as an adult with first degree murder in the death of his mother, Donna Campbell-Powell, 39, who worked at the Baltimore county Office of Budget and Finance.
He is also charged with the attempted murder of his father, who was treated for injuries sustained during the assault.
He was ordered held without bail.

The teenager reportedly told investigators he and his mother were arguing when he armed himself with the baseball bat and beat her to death. He then wrapped her body in a blanket and hid it in the family garage. Hours later when his father arrived home and fell asleep on a couch, the boy reportedly attacked his father with the baseball bat and hit him several times in the head. His father managed to overpower him but was also badly injured.

The Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) said yesterday that the family were recent immigrants from Jamaica, but refused to provide further details.

"The family just recently moved here from Jamaica," a female officer from the BCPD told the Observer. "He is a minor so his case file is kept closed."

The boy was being chided by his mother about his performance in school when he allegedly killed her.
He was attending school on a baseball scholarship and was hailed as an honour student by school officials, according to a report in the Baltimore Sun.

WHY WE JAMAICANS MUST BE INVOLVED IN AL THE f**kLERY THAT GOES ON?

Police c**** the scene for clues where the bodies of two men were found with multiple gunshot wounds in Plantation Heights, St Andrew yesterday. The body of a woman was also found metres from this scene, police say. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

A Plantation Heights couple had the shock of their lives when they awoke to find the bullet-riddled bodies of two men sprawled out in front of their home along Patrick Road in the upper St Andrew community yesterday morning.

The quiet community was further shaken by the discovery of a woman's body with multiple gunshot wounds before dawn in a separate section of the neighbourhood. The woman had gunshot wounds to the head, neck and chest.

A *lo**ied towel and a pair of slippers were also found beside her body, said residents who told of hearing explosions shortly after midnight.

Up to late yesterday afternoon, police had still not identified the three but said that although both incidents are being treated separately, it is possible that the three might have been murdered by the same men.

"Based on the distance and the times at which the bodies were found, the incidents are being treated separately, but that does not mean that they might not be linked with each other. That possibility will also be explored," Constable Richard Minott of the Constabulary Communication Network told the Observer.

As scene of crime detectives c****ed the area for clues yesterday, the couple who found the men was being pressed by investigators. According to the police, the two said they did not hear any explosions or vehicles outside the house the night before and only woke up to find the corpses at the entrance to the property.

But while the sleuths gathered information, several onlookers who rushed from nearby Asquint Drive, where the woman's body was earlier found, crafted their own version of events.
According to one female resident, several explosions echoed off the hillsides minutes after midnight.

"Is around seven gunshots me hear," the woman said as a detective took the fingerprints of one of the slain men behind the police yellow tape.

Yesterday's killings angered the residents who complained that hoodlums have been using their community as a dumping ground for the bodies of murder victims. The bushy hillsides, the residents say, provide the perfect cover for the criminals as they carry out their deeds.

"I want to know why these men don't keep it at them place. Them always just carry the foolishness come up at our community come nasty it up. Why them don't keep it at their place?" another woman, who said she had been living in the community for over 30 years, told the Observer.

"Plantation Heights is peaceful, no murder don't go on up here. The people them have them house up here selling and people want to come live up here. When these things happen nobody will want to come here," the woman said, amid nods of approval from fellow residents. .

It sounds like a hilarious pitch for a road movie: Britney Spears and Mel Gibson head to Central America. High jinks ensue. But it turns out that random, what-the-heck premise is actually a reality. "Entertainment Tonight" reports the improbable pals are vacationing together in Costa Rica.

Seems Mel invited the unsafe-at-any-speed cautionary tale and her decision-making dad Jamie to join him as guests at his Costa Rican home (he reportedly plunked down $25.8 million for a 400-acre ranch last year).

On Thursday morning, Brit and Papa Spears winged out of Los Angeles with the weathered Oscar winner and his wife, Robin, on a private plane for what's expected to be a short holiday.

"They're just going away for a few days to relax," an insider downplays to People.

Spears, who has spent the last few weeks being shuttled to the gym, the recording studio and the set of "How I Met Your Mother," was sans sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden, 20 months, who are presumably with dad Kevin Federline. "ET" says they're not allowed to leave the country without "special approval."

You'll recall that Britney and Mel, who were once neighbors in a rarefied Malibu enclave, were last spotted together in March, when they broke bread at a Russian restaurant in L.A. a few weeks after she checked out of the psych ward. It was believed to be one of a series of meetings between the two.

"Mel and his wife Robin clearly saw a woman in crisis and wanted to extend themselves in any way possible," an insider told People at the time. "There are no expectations, there is no agenda. It's simply an act of human kindness -- one neighbor reaching out to the other."

Gibson, who is no stranger to a public backlash caused by bad behavior (see his 2006 DUI bust), also apparently offered Spears the wisdom of his experience.

"He understands what she's going through," a source told OK!. "And he certainly has advice on how to not let it destroy your life."

-- Edited by Garrick at 13:16, 2008-05-17

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A fun night at the ballpark turned into more for one couple who got engaged at Friday evenings Jacksonville Suns game.
When she walked into the baseball grounds, little did Angela Compo know that during the fourth inning she would have to make a big decision.
When the words, Angela, will you marry me? Jon, came up on the big screen, Compos boyfriend, Jon Lesser, didnt strike out.
That was crazy. It was the neatest thing anybody has ever done for me, Compo said after agreeing to marry Lesser.
The couple said they were friends for several years before falling madly in love about three months ago.
We can talk for hours. We just dont get tired of talking. We laugh together all the time. We spend hours and hours just giggling and laughing. Its a wonderful thing -- something that Ive never felt before, Lesser said.
He loves my four kids. He loves me, and hes ready to take the whole package, Compo said.
The future bride said Fridays game was the first professional game shed attended. The couple plans to wed sometime next spring.

Grants Pen residents say policing model failed
published: Sunday | May 18, 2008

 

Recently, Jamaican dancehall group Monster Shack took a left-hook at the Alliance leader, Bounty Killer and we were under the impression that the Grung Gadd bob and weave evading the attack and walked away. Bounty_Killer.jpgThe group did a track A Wah Do Blo*o*dcl@@t Bounty, dissing Bounty Killer which got a lot of airplay while the Killer was on his tour of Europe. There was talk that he did a response but his camp says it was a song that was voiced before he left the island, it wasnt a counteraction to the Monster Shack attack. Well, One876Entertainment.com received the official counteraction, a track laced with lines dissing Monster Shack, Beenie Man and Ninjaman aptly titled Kill Dem All, which he voiced on his own version of the Show Time riddim, clapped by Ruff Kut and Ward 21. He locks target on Monster Shack first: Monster Sprat chuck off, Weh dem ah Bo*o*dcl@@t think? The free Hennessey weh dem a blo*o*dcl@@t drink Mi Haskell kick-off and head bus like chink And he goes on to tell Roundhead to bring back his rims and tyres. He then segues seamlessly into telling about Beenie Man playing starring roles on the Peter King tape and mentions Beenie Mans former boss. Click here to listen track (EXPLICIT LYRICS)

Kanu lifts Cup for Portsmouth
published: Sunday | May 18, 2008

Portsmouth's Kanu holds the trophy after beating Cardiff City 1-0 to win the FA Cup final at Wembley yesterday. - AP

WEMBLEY, England (AP):

NWANKWO KANU scored a first-half goal yesterday for Portsmouth to beat Cardiff 1-0 and win the FA Cup final for the first time since 1939.

The Nigerian striker punished a fumble by Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman in the 37th minute of the 127th FA Cup final to give manager Harry Redknapp his first major trophy in 25 years of coaching.

"Fantastic. For everybody, espe-cially my family," said Redknapp, whose sister-in-law Pat Lampard, mother of Chelsea's Frank Lampard, died of cancer last month. "The fans, the players. It's been a difficult year off the field so this is a dream come true. We're a very close family - it's for all my grandchildren and everybody. The players are all great, I love them all."

Bidding to become the first lower-league team to win the famous trophy since West Ham beat Arsenal in 1980, League Championship club Cardiff threatened occasionally.

But Kanu had one of the worst misses in the world's oldest domestic cup competition when he missed an open net in the 22nd and hit the post instead.

Cardiff's only FA Cup triumph was in 1927 and the Welsh club has not been in the top flight of English soccer since 1962.

Costly mistake

"A slight mistake cost us," Cardiff manager Dave Jones said. "But we have done everyone proud. I hope we've given every club hope that they can achieve what they might have thought was impossible," Jones said. "I'm very proud of my players, my staff, the chairman and especially the fans. I'm sorry we couldn't see it through to the death for them."

Jones' team gave the Premier League's eighth-place finishers an early scare when Paul Parry got past Sol Campbell only for Pompey goalkeeper David James to race off his line and block his shot with his legs.

But Portsmouth should have gone ahead in the 22nd when Kanu finished off a slick move down the left by twisting past Glenn Loovens and Enckelman. The lanky Nigerian was left with an open goal but, from an acute angle, hit the outside of the post.

Kanu, who scored Portsmouth's goal in the semi-final victory over West Bromwich Albion in the same stadium, made up for it 12 minutes later with some major help from Enckelman.

The goalkeeper fumbled a cross from the right by John Utaka and the ball bobbed up for Kanu to stab it over the line to the agony of the Cardiff fans behind the goal.

http://my.break.com/Content/view.aspx?ContentID=453274

Artiste Lady Saw

Following Buju Banton's call for other artistes to clean up their music, some have answered the challenge and are in agreement that some change in lyrics need to take place.

Buju issued an appeal to his fellow entertainers to clean up their lyrics in order to help Jamaica to recover from its present social decay.

The deejay, who posted a message in his newsletter, The Gargamel Gleaner, said, "We are suffering a social decay yet not one, not a single one of our entertainers, has seen the need for a change in the lyrical content they are selling."

However, that estimation may not be entirely accurate. Veteran dancehall artiste, Lady Saw, although admitting to performing "raw songs" in the past, told The STAR, "I'm down with cleaning up the music."

There was a world meeting and when every country leader sat round the table
they were ask to bow for prayer but when they bow for prayer all the black leaders close there eyes so when they close there eyes the white leaders dip into there plates and take out all there golds and from that day black have been pour.

Ralph Hardy, a 13 year-old kid stole his father's credit card and racked up $30,000 worth of debt on it, eventually partying in a hotel room with an XBox 360, Halo 3, a couple of friends, and two hookers. That kid is a flat baller. The kid, from Texas, managed to convince the desk clerk at the hotel that he and a friend had won a World of Warcraft tournament, and that's why they had the money they did. Furthermore, they convinced the same clerk to deliver Fritos and Dr. Pepper to their room.

But it gets better. For this next part, you have to read it the way it was originally reported...


"Asked why he ordered two escorts, Ralph said he thought it was the thing to do when you win a World of Warcraft tournament. They told the suspicious working girls they were people of restricted growth working with a traveling circus, and as State law does not allow those with disabilities to be discriminated against they had no right to refuse them.

The $1,000 a night girls sensing something up played "Halo" on the Xbox with the kids, instead of selling their sexual services."

And then the punch line...

"Ralph's ambition is to one day become a politician."

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Friends and family of a former Florida State University student found dead last week after helping with a narcotics investigation are gathering to remember her.
Loved ones of 23-year-old Rachel Hoffman are meeting Wednesday in Tallahassee to mourn her death, meanwhile a group is planning a march at the Old State Capitol to raise awareness of Hoffman's case.
Hoffman's body was found Friday in rural Taylor County, two days after she went missing. Hoffman, who was facing several felony charges, had agreed to cooperate with narcotics officers and was posing as a buyer.

Members of the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard and police from Operation Kingfish yesterday seized a go-fast boat laden with a large quantity of ganja in Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine.

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network are that sometime after 1:00 p.m., members of the security forces intercepted the boat off the Old Harbour Bay coast.

The vessel was searched and several packages of compressed ganja weighing 130 kilograms (286lb) were found. The boat was subsequently taken to the Coast Guard Headquarters where the drug was retrieved and taken to Narcotics Headquarters.

.

The Narcotics Police who are investigating have since taken two men into custody for questioning in connection with the seizure.

A KUNG fu master stunned an audience in China by holding a running drill to his own head - and walking away unharmed.

Hu Qiong drilled his temple and belly with a fast spinning electric drill for a full minute each, but had no wounds at the China Martial Arts Stunts Competition in Fushan City, Guangdong province.

He also caught a running electric saw with his BARE HANDS.

He then used the drill to bore metal, wood and plastic to prove it was as sharp as it looked.

Hu, who has been dubbed "the unbreakable body" by other martial arts experts, said he started to learn martial arts at the age of eight at a Shaolin temple.

whats unnu wudda prefer fi ave sex in, inna di dark are light???

to mi it different mi seh wen light inna di room but if shi ugly mi seh dark wah bout unnu wah unnu seh

A WOMAN who smuggled a baby out of Nigeria to get a free flat was jailed for 26 months today.

Housing support worker Peace Sandberg was branded "manipulative and a stranger to the truth" by a judge after allegedly buying a three-month-old boy in her native country for ?150 to use as a porn in securing a council flat.

The 40-year-old used a forged birth certificate to get a visa for the tot from Nigeria's British High Commission.

Within hours of landing at Heathrow, the fraudster, a Kensington Housing Trust support worker who had been living in a hostel, was at Ealing Councils homeless persons unit, cradling the child in her arms.


Manipulative

She claimed she had returned to Africa in December 2006 to give birth and now needed a flat for herself and her "son".

But Londons Isleworth Crown Court heard Sandberg was immediately recognised by housing officer Lizette Reddy.

And she clearly remembered Sandberg - who holds joint Nigerian and Swedish nationality - not being pregnant when she saw her two months earlier.

Sandberg denied any wrongdoing, claiming she had adopted her cousins orphaned son to give him a better life in Britain.

She also insisted she took the ?150 to Nigeria to help care for him while she was out there.

However, those trying the case took just 40 minutes to unanimously decide she was lying and convict her of one count of child trafficking.

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Outside court Detective Inspector Gordon Valentine, of the joint police and immigration service Paladin team, which investigates child trafficking and exploitation, welcomed the sentence.

He blasted: "This is the first case I am aware of where a child has been smuggled into Britain to get a free home.

He said although the matter had not been tested in court there was clear circumstantial evidence" to suggest she paid money for the child.

"It is quite shocking what she did. She took this child from its home environment and brought it here with the sole intention of exploiting him for benefits.

A SCHOOLGIRL aged 16 who has run away with a 46-year-old man has told her mum that she is not coming home.

Lisa Wright fled three weeks ago to be with a friend of the family, Nigel Trowbridge.

The jobless father of five lived nearby.

Lisa said she was prepared to "lose everything" for him and admitted they are having sex.

Her mother Angela, 45, a dental nurse, said yesterday: "I heard from her on Wednesday evening.

"She told me she was with him and was very annoyed about the publicity. It was clear she has no intention of coming home."

Lisa, of Dagenham, Essex, was due to take her GCSEs this week and was expected to get A and A-star grades, and go on to university.

Police said that although she was above the age of consent she was too young to leave home without telling her family or the authorities where she was staying.

PEOPLE'S NATIONAL PARTY (PNP) caretaker for St Catherine North Eastern, Phyllis Mitchell, yesterday received the green light from the Court of Appeal to challenge Gregory Mair's eligibility to sit in Parliament.

With the Appeals Court win, another Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) seat has been placed under threat, presenting the potential for the Government's narrow four-seat margin to be even further reduced and for an early election to be called.

Mitchell is expected to pursue an election petition in the Supreme Court, in an attempt to establish that Mair has dual citizenship.

There are three other election-petition cases before the courts, two of which are alleging dual citizenship.

The JLP's West Portland Member of Parliament, Daryl Vaz, has already been ousted as a result of his dual citizenship, and is now appealing Chief Justice Zaila McCalla's ruling against him.

Mair had challenged the manner in which the petition was delivered, but the Court of Appeal found that he had been properly served by registered mail, in accordance with the Election Petitions Act.

Service took effect

The court held that service took effect on the date when the letter with the election petition and other documents were dispatched by registered post to the address given on Mair's nomination paper.

Mitchell contends in the petition, which was filed in the Supreme Court on October 1 last year, that Mair was not qualified to be elected to the House of Representatives because on nomination day, he was a Venezuelan national.

Mair was served with a copy of the petition while in Parliament on October 2, 2007. The election-petition documents were sent by registered mail on October 9, 2007, the address on Mair's nomination paper.

When Mair challenged the service of the petition, Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh held that service of the documents in Parliament when it was in session was null and void.

However, the Court of Appeal comprising Justice Algernon Smith, Justice Karl Harrison and Justice Mahadev Dukharan overturned the judgment of the Supreme Court.

In their interpretation of the act, the Court of Appeal judges found that "the notice of presentation of the petition and other documents were served and given on the date when the letter containing them was dispatched by registered post."

No surprise

Chairman of the PNP, Robert Pickersgill said yesterday's decision by the Court of Appeal did not come as a surprise to the party.

The PNP chairman said his party had indicated its willingness to hold talks with the Government on dual-citizenship cases.

But while the PNP has signalled that it would sit at the table with the Government to discuss the latest developments, Pickersgill said Prime Minister Bruce Golding had sent mixed signals on the matter.

The PNP chairman argued Golding had said he would be willing to govern with a single majority, but later changed his position, saying if the Court of Appeal handed the seat to Dabdoub, he might have to call a general election.

In this regard, Pickersgill said the party was "constantly under starter's orders and when that gun goes, we had better be ready to go".

General Secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party, Karl Samuda, said the party was not in a position to make an official comment on the latest developments.

He told The Gleaner yesterday that when the prime minister returned to the island next week, the party would discuss the issue and make a decision.

The Rocky Point fishing village, one of the major destinations for freshly cooked seafood in Jamaica, is now an environmental disaster.

The beachfront has become a small town with a number of informal settlers. The ad-hoc development has meant that many of the amenities of modern life are absent.

Activities on the beach have provided a prime opportunity for fishermen to eke out a living and over time - beach lands there have become occupied with zinc shacks, huts and boats.

As recently as August last year during Hurricane Dean, the ramshackle structures were destroyed, but were promptly rebuilt.

No garbage disposal

With a growing population and high visitor turnout, the coastline, with no garbage disposal or collection system, has now become a place of squalor because users of the beach get rid of their waste on the sand by either dumping or burning.

A thorough look at the beach provides scenes littered with dead aquatic fauna and flora, plastic bottles, tyres, boards, nails and dead animals.

One end of the beachfront is waterlogged, a tiny lake transformed into a natural habitat for pigs. Inevitably, mosquitoes have also taken a liking to the area and are breeding uncontrolled.

The community now fears malaria and dengue epidemics.

Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for South East Clarendon, Ruddy Spencer, in a recent visit to the community, threatened to destroy all illegal structures, "I am going to remove all those building that are there. We cannot operate that way; it's a disaster. The sanitation is poor, it is bad," the health minister told The Gleaner.

Clean-up question

Spencer is uncertain about when the clean-up process will begin because he will have to seek funding for the demolition and relocation of the vendors who operate from the beach. Spencer has identified the old Rocky Point market as the possible place for relocation but that structure is also in need of major repairs.

Those who use the beachfront to make a living are concerned about the environmental hazards. They are hoping that the minister's visit will be the first step in improving their situation.

Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel scored his first number one for the year 2008 with the single, Money Fi Spend on the Big Ship label. The single, propelled by excellent street play and brisk sales, knocked Harry Toddler off the top of the Jamaica Music Countdown charts two weeks ago and continues its strong run.

Kartela.jpgLast year, Kartel scored two number ones last year with Wine Pon You and Beyonce Wine. In the meantime, his other singles such as Trailer Load A Money hit the top ten of the RE TV charts and is poised to become a monster hit this Summer, while Nah Go Nowhere is number 8 on the Jamaica Music Countdown chart.

He has attended workshops put on by the US Embassy geared towards reaching out to disenfranchised youths and he has donated computers to high schools in need of equipment.

The deejay has been turning his attention to projects such as the promotion of his Vybz Rum liquor, as well as playing a role to help decrease the level of violence in the society. He recently personally bankrolled a series of radio commercials which were in effect public service announcements decrying violence on ZIP FM.

He has done this for the past four weeks, paying for the commercials out of his own pocket.

"We have to make an effort to reach the disenfranchised youths in Jamaica, to make them understand that crime and violence is not the answer, life is more than just guns and badness...there are many opportunities out there and other ways for them to exist and express themselves," he said.

Other stakeholders are responding. Jaevion Nelson of the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network, will be using the PSA as part of a workshop at Youth Opportunities Unlimited on healthy lifestyles this Saturday.

" I heard it on the radio two Sundays ago - and thought it is a great effort that must be lauded, supported and sustained," he said.

Vybz Kartel is also maturing as a businessman, scoring his first major endorsement deal with a beverage company. He remains enthusiastic about the prospects for the liquor's success.

"This represents a great opportunity for me and for the dancehall community to show Corporate Jamaica that the industry can be taken seriously as a viable economic force because of the influence and power that dancehall wields as an art form in Jamaica. We will be going all out to make Vybz Rum a big success," he said.

The product, called Vybz Rum, will be Kartel's first licensing agreement, and his first major endorsement with a beverage company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.The liquor is distributed by Betco. Premier Limited.

Which 1 is it

"Money talks and bullshit walks" is a common term used by Jamaicans. Women no longer want "bruk pocket man". So men if you ain't rolling out inna yuh criss vehicle and have yuh money lock some women won't even bother to look your way. As Kartel's song says "Car man ina dem gal yah thought, dem change man like auto parts, no vehicle no romance". And me know some man can agree with him because some women nowadays just looking a man to con.

But the question still remains, can money really make a woman happy? Now you have some of these women who lucky fi find the money man dem, but dem a buss dem ass. Now a so some woman really love money that dem ago stay wid a man weh out fi kill dem? Now memba dis ladies, yuh no have no money fi yuh self yuh affi depend on the man fi everything yuh want. Some time me affi wonder if some women no like feel independent. Don't get me wrong me nah seh woman fid deh wid bruk pocket man but mek sure yuh have sumting fi yuh self so dat if the man run yuh or a buss yuh ass yuh can at least leave wit yuh dignity.

Mr Vegas unleashes 'Must Come A Road'

Dancehall's favorite sing jay has returned with another steamy single, Mus Come a Road. This new song, which has been boiling on the underground dancehall circuit, is sure to dash up the charts. Produced by Rellee of "Raging Bull" fame and penned by Mr. Vegas, "Mus Come a Road" will surely set the summer on fire.



When the pulsating beat drops for "Mus Come a Road," a sense of nostalgia evokes, as the song is built on Barrington Levy's 1982 smash "Prison Oval Rock." Vegas' millennium version of the cult classic thrives with a Barrington Levy sample, which is looped through out the song.

The original cut evolved from dances in Spanish Town that were held near a prison. Barrington Levy, clearly Vegas' favorite singer, vividly described the whole era in his hit. Moreover, Vegas unleashes a modern day twist with "Mus Come a Road."

On "Mus Come a Road," Mr. Vegas' passionately croons of the injustice of criminal justice. "There are some people behind bars who have been charged for a crime that is not as bad as the people who are in jail for murder, and the murders sometimes get out before them," says Mr. Vegas earnestly. "This song is for the people who have experienced that."

The "Mus Come a Road" single is joined by an appealing music video, currently in rotation on numerous American and Caribbean television outlets including BET J, VH1 Soul, Tempo, RE TV and Hype TV to name a few. As "Prison Oval Rock" was a hardcore vintage record, they wanted to capture it's essence with a "Harder They Come" themed video -- adding to the rough, street vibe of the song. In the video, Mr. Vegas is wanted and "on the road." Mr. Vegas

"Mus Come a Road" was produced by Winston Mayhew, who boasts a number of top Reggae music videos to his credit including Busy Signal's "Nah Go A Jail" and "These Are The Days," Morgan Heritage's "Look Pon Di Gully Side," and Duane Stephenson's "August Town."

Mr. Vegas catapulted on to the Reggae dancehall scene over ten years ago with the break through hit "Heads High." For over a decade, he has been incessantly entertaining fans with timeless hits. His latest album Hot It Up, distributed by Delicious Vinyl, has been embraced by his fans. Notably, "Hot Wuk" made the Billboard charts. Now, Mr. Vegas is positioned to score again with the sure-fire "Mus Come a Road."

1. Bramma
1+1. Jim Laden
3. Blak Ryno
4. Khari Jess

Gimme Your Choice

A man and a woman who reportedly had an altercation over the assault of a cat and destruction of some flowers appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer charges of malicious destruction of property and unlawful wounding, stemming from the incident. Andrew Doyle is charged with unlawful wounding, while Paula Thomas is facing malicious destruction of property charges. When Doyle and Thomas appeared in court, they gave different but equally humorous versions about what allegedly took place. Thomas told the court that Doyle beat her cat 'unconscious' and then following an argument over his actions, slapped her several times with a machete. Doyle on the other hand, told the court that he did not intentionally harm his neighbour's cat but merely swung his grille open after which he heard the cat 'squeal'. He added that he saw that the cat appeared to have been hurt and he took the pet upstairs to Thomas' quarters but after knocking on her door to no response, he left the cat there. He added that when he came out his house, saw the cat and an argument developed between himself and Thomas. Thomas reportedly destroyed some plants and flowers that he had on the premises at which time a machete was used to slap her over the body. The investigating officer in the matter said the injury to Thomas' cat cost her a $3,500 veterinarian bill which Doyle handed over in court. Both persons were given letters to attend counselling at the Dispute Resolution Foundation and are set to reappear in court on June 25.

The saying 'Little But We Tallawah' was not coined about the Island for no reason, and to further reaffirm this claim is U.S. based group Gnarls Barkley who 876radio.com learnt was recently in the island shooting a video for the single 'Going On'. off their latest album titled 'Odd Couple'

After touching down on the island the popular multi-instrumental group turned their attention to the inner city community of Tivoli Gardens which played host to the storyboard for the new video. Not only was the infamous community once again placed in the spotlight, but a lot of local talents were also recruited for various roles in the project. Most noticeable of those were popular dance group Shady Squad showcasing some of the local dance moves to director Wendy Morgan from the Canadian based Revolver Films.

Gnarls Barkley is an American musical collaboration between multi-instrumentalist and producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) from New York, and rapper/vocalist Cee-Lo Green (Thomas Callaway), from Atlanta. Their first album, St. Elsewhere, was released in 2006; it and their first hit, "Crazy", were major commercial successes, and were noted for their large sales by download. The duo released their second album, The Odd Couple, in March of 2008.

We have embedded a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure (see video belows)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Jacksonville mother and her young daughter are happy to be together and safe after they were carjacked at a gas station in the Mandarin area.
The Su family planned on vacuuming out their two cars at the gas station; but while they were working on cleaning the cars, a criminal struck.
Danielle Su said her husband, Anthony Su, was inside the store getting change when a strange man jumped behind the wheel of one of their cars.
The carjacking took place in the 10000 block of Old St. Augustine Road while the couples 2-year-old daughter Laila was still inside the car.
My handprints are still on the car from where I tried to get hold and I tried to get in, Danielle Su said.
She told Channel 4 she was able to hop into the back seat just in time to try to save her daughter.
I don't care if you take the car, but you're not taking her. The police were like, 'Most of the time when they take a kid with the car, they'll just dump them anywhere -- a trash can, the side of the road, they don't care, Danielle Su said.
The carjacker drove erratically for a few blocks before crashing the car at a nearby apartment complex. That where Danielle Su said the man hopped out of her wrecked car and then stole another car.
Anthony Su said after he walked out of the store to see what was happening he tried running after the stolen car, but soon realized he needed to hop in their other car if he was going to catch up with the carjacker that had his family.
I saw my wife in the backseat, and I see the dude. He was looking dead at me, Anthony Su said. Just seeing my wife and daughter in the backseat and the guy in the front seat, it was just like, What do I do? What do I do next?'
Although the Su family is left with a car that has a few dings in it, they said that doesn't matter because their daughter is safe.
That's a car. I can replace that, but that's my wife and daughter, and I love them so much. I can't replace that, Anthony Su said.

www.iriefm.net


Serious Times 4 Di Artiste Dem...Clean Up Unnuh Act!!!

CHICAGO - A judge has denied a motion from news organizations seeking immediate access to sealed court records and transcripts in the R. Kelly child pornography trial.

Judge Vincent Gaughan (GAWN) also refused to lift a gag order forbidding attorneys to talk about the case.

The judge says he's not trying to inhibit the press. But he says the time isn't right to release the information and keeping it secret is the only way to guarantee a fair trial.

Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl.

Jury selection in the R&B singer's trial finished this week. Opening arguments begin Tuesday.

NEW ORLEANS -- A New Orleans Burger King recently got a visit from a drag queen with a gun, New Orleans television station WDSU reported.

Security cameras showed the man, wearing a dress with a revealing bust line and hair barrettes, climbed through the takeout window at a Burger King on May 11. He held the employees at gunpoint, demanded money, exited through the same drive-through window and drove away.

"By looking at the vehicle pull up, we can tell that's a pickup," WDSU crime and safety specialist Howard Robertson said. "And if you look at the rims -- you know that's not a Ford or GM. The other thing I wanted to look at was whether he got out the drivers or passengers door to see if he had an accomplice, somebody who was driving his vehicle when he left. But he got out the driver's side."

Robertson said the thief is probably a genuine cross-dresser because his necklace matched the dress, his nails appeared to be painted and the wig was well made.

"Most of the time when somebody puts on a wig they're just trying to hide their identity by putting on something like a Halloween mask, but he's pretty," Robertson said.

Robertson said he was surprised the thief didn't cover his face, though he said it doesn't matter in this case.

"There's a strong possibility that this person is a cross-dresser and someone in that community will know this guy, especially if they see him on the TV, someone will know him," Robertson said.

Police said the suspect was about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed about 180 pounds.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The family of a woman who pleaded guilty earlier this year to locking her teenage son in a bed told a judge she is not the monster prosecutors make her out to be and urged him not to give her a long prison sentence.
Brenda Sullivan could receive up to 20 years on three counts of aggravated child abuse.
In the first of what could be a three-day sentencing hearing, Sullivan's stepson testified that she locked her teenage son in what he called a pedia-crib for his own protection.
"If he was uncontrollable and we couldn't control him.... When he calmed down he was let out," said Nathan Sullivan, who broke down at times on the stand.
Prosecutors said Brenda Sullivan's 17-year-old adopted son weighed 49 pounds when authorities removed him from the home in 2005.
A police report said the boy was starving and suffered psychosocial dwarfism -- a lack of physical and emotional growth caused by abuse. Authorities also say he was forced to wear a diaper.
Sullivan told a judge at the time that Ohio authorities told her to keep the boy, who had severe medical and emotional problems, in a crib.
Duval County Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper was shown photos of the boy when he was taken into state custody and what he looks like now, three years later.
Sullivan has insisted a doctor prescribed the crib to keep the boy she called "unruly" under control, something her sister-in-law explained in court.
"His time-outs couldn't be like a regular time-out," said Sullivan's sister-in-law, Ordrian Sullivan. "If you sat him in he corner, he's dismantle something or try to take a speaker apart and put the wires in a socket. So they put him in his bed until he decided to calm down."
Prosecutors said this treatment was not punishment, but abuse. They said no teenager should ever be put in a cage and argue his size was unimaginable.
While defense witnesses occupied most of Friday's testimony, prosecutors are expected to begin presenting their case on Monday.
Sullivan's husband, Wilson, was also arrested, but died in January 2007 while awaiting trial. Brenda Sullivan's bond was recently revoked. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

FRESNO, Calif. - A central California biochemist convicted of killing her estranged husband by knocking him out and stuffing him into a vat of acid has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Larissa Schuster of Clovis was convicted in December of murdering Timothy Schuster with the special circumstance that the murder was committed for financial gain.

His half-dissolved body was found a few days after his 2003 death in a barrel that was inside a storage unit his wife had rented.

At the 47-year-old woman's sentencing hearing Friday, a Fresno County Superior Court judge also rejected her attorney's motion for a new trial.

-- Edited by Crazypickney at 23:19, 2008-05-17