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U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay beats 100-meter world record holder Usain Bolt in Stockholm

U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay handed world record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica his first 100-meter loss in more than two years at the IAAF Diamond League DN Galan meet Friday in Stockholm.

Gay held a narrow lead over Bolt halfway through the race before pulling away to set a meet record (which earned him an automatic prize of a $10,000 diamond) of 9.84 seconds and defeat Bolt for the first time.

Now Ive got to keep it up, Gay said.

Bolt took second place with a time of 9.97 seconds, his second slowest time ever in a final, according to the Diamond League website.

His last loss in the event was also in Stockholm, in July 2008. That race was won by fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, who did not race Friday because of a back injury.

Just one of those days, Bolt said. I told you Im not unbeatable. I did not train as hard as in past years, so I cant complain. And it was Tyson Gay. My congratulations to him. Im not in my best shape and he is in great shape.... I simply wasnt ready enough for that clash.

RAKVERE, Estonia (AP) Justin Gatlin won a 100-metre race in 10.24 seconds yesterday in his first competition after a four-year doping ban.

Gatlin's time at the small Bigbank Kuldliiga meet in Rakvere, northeastern Estonia, was nearly 0.4 seconds off the pace that made him Olympic champion in 2004.

The 28-year-old American sprinter finished .07 seconds ahead of countryman J-Mee Samuels, while Rubin Williams, also of the United States, was third in 10.54.

"I felt good, I felt alive," Gatlin told The Associated Press. "I'm a little disappointed in the time. I run half the race just kind of cycling through it.

"But I think this is a good comeback, to get my feet wet, and I hope going into the next races will be bigger and better."

Gatlin won his qualifying heat earlier yesterday in 10.34.

None of the other competitors at the meet had a personal best below 10 seconds.

Gatlin won gold in the 100 at the 2004 Athens Olympics in 9.85. He won the 100 and 200 at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, but was banned from the sport after testing positive in April 2006 for excessive testosterone. The ban ended last month.

Gatlin, who is aiming for the 2012 London Olympics, is set to compete again Sunday in Tallinn, the Estonian capital.

His coach, Loren Seagrave, said Gatlin was smooth and relaxed, particularly in the heat, but still needs to "polish" his speed.

"The first 20 metres weren't characteristic Justin. I think he still has a lot more left," Seagrave said. "The only thing he needs now is opportunities to compete."

Chelsea 1 United 3

There's no hiding that Chelsea going for it with Didier Drogba and Danny Sturridge coming on for John Obi Mikel and Nicolas Anelka - upped their game and began to press forward more than they had done before half-time. But they were mostly limited to efforts from distance in a second half that naturally lost some of its zip and vigour.

That said, this had always looked like being Uniteds day. And the Reds took a major step towards victory in bizarre fashion 15 minutes from time. Valencia, as he had done all afternoon, made Ashley Cole look slow and cumbersome, racing onto OSheas flighted pass down the line. The Ecuadorian then picked out Chicharito inside the six-yard box, but the Mexicans shot deflected off his own face and into the net to make it 2-0. 

Chelsea grabbed a goal back with seven minutes remaining when van der Sar parried Sturridges left-footed shot into the path of Kalou, who rifled the ball in at the near post. It set up a tense finish, but United landed a final, conclusive blow when subsitutes Nani and Berbatov combined to kill off the game in style. The Portugueses flicked pass was the last of 18 passes to create space for a sumptuous chip from his Bulgarian team-mate. The Community Shield may not carry much weight in the honours list come the end of the season, but this confidence-boosting performance bodes well for the campaign ahead.

-- Edited by I-CO on Tuesday 17th of August 2010 07:31:29 PM

Robinho has responded to Pele's criticism him for joining Manchester City, insisting the Brazil icon and again criticised Real Madrid for the failure of his move to Chelsea.

Former Santos forward Robinho, 24, joined City from Real Madrid on Monday in a shock transfer-deadline-day move after having looked on course for a transfer to Stamford Bridge.

City - newly rich as a result of investment the Abu Dhabi United Group - stepped in to meet the asking price and Pele is reported to have said Robinho 'needs some serious counselling' as he had been 'badly advised' by people close to him. Robinho has stressed the move to City is the right one.

'I accept Pele's criticism as he is the king of football, but if he had been me, he would have done the same,' said Robinho, who arrived in Teresopolis in a helicopter yesterday to train with the national team ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia.

'Real did not want to retain me. They even used me as a potential exchange to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. But as that negotiation fell through, they wanted to retain me then.

'If they didn't want to count on me, I didn't want to stay there either, so that is what I told the president.'

Robinho admitted his first intention was to move to Chelsea to be coached by former Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari but a number of issues led to Real Madrid cancelling negotiations.

'My first goal was to go to Chelsea as it was the only club to have made a formal offer,' he added. 'But Real did not like Chelsea shirts with my name on being sold before sorting out the negotiations,' he said, referring to an embara**ing episode that saw Chelsea's commercial arm peddling Robinho merchandise when a deal was nowhere near being done.

'Also, they did not reach the value Real demanded so then Manchester City came in at the last minute to sign me.'

Robinho said Real's refusal to release him to play at the Olympic Games was one of the main reasons why he quit the Spanish side to join City.

The Primera Liga giants denied the forward the chance to play in Beijing last month claiming the Brazilian had an injury, but the forward became angry with the club's board and asked president Ramon Calderon for a move away from the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

'I cried when he (Calderon) didn't let me play at the Olympics and you can check that by asking him,' said Robinho.

'I didn't cry to quit. I just told him I didn't want to stay there any longer so I asked to be transferred.'

Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazil midfielder Ramires from Benfica.

BOSTON (AP)-Shaquille O'Neal has changed The Big Three of the Boston Celtics into a Very Big Four.

The 7-foot-1, 325-pound center in the twilight of a brilliant career is coming to the Eastern Conference champions, hoping to add to his four NBA titles.

O'Neal signed a two-year contract worth about $3 million on Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said on condition of anonymity because no details were released.

So this is where Shaq's colorful career will end after 20 seasons if he completes his contract with the Celtics.

One of the NBA's most charismatic players will finish with a legendary franchise on the parquet floor beneath 17 championship banners and the retired numbers of Bill Russell, Larry Bird, John Havlicek and other NBA greats.

After receiving little interest from other teams, O'Neal will play on that floor with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Boston's "Big Three" since Garnett and Allen arrived before the 2007-08 season

From the first pick in the 1992 draft out of Louisiana State to dominant, rim-rattling inside force to complementary player, O'Neal's NBA travels have taken him to six teams and 15 All-Star games. He is the fifth leading scorer with 28,255 points and 14th in rebounds with 12,921 in league history. He's averaged 24.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks and was the NBA MVP in 2000.

His foul shooting might still be a problem and his lumbering style could slow down a running game, but the Celtics need the big center because Kendrick Perkins(notes) is out, possibly until February, following knee surgery.
Perkins was hurt in Game 6 of the NBA finals against Los Angeles and missed the Lakers' 83-79 win in Game 7.

"If we get to another Game 7 down the line, I'm sure we will be glad we have Shaq on the team," Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck said.

The team considered too old by some, despite nearly winning the title, has decided to rely for two more years on a group of 30-plus stars, all likely headed for the Hall of Fame.

O'Neal, 38, joins Pierce, 32, Garnett, 34, and Allen, 35. The Celtics also signed free agent center Jermaine O'Neal, 31-a six-time All-Star-after the season.

All five are signed for two seasons, except Pierce, who has four years left on the deal he signed after the season. Point guard Rajon Rondo, 24, also is in the fold for four more years.

"I am honored to be joining the Celtics," Shaq said in a statement issued by the club. "I have played against Paul, Ray, Kevin, Rajon, and Jermaine for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another championship."

The Celtics won their NBA high 17th championship in 2008.

"It is not every day that you can add a player of Shaquille's caliber to your team," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in the statement. "His past experience speaks for itself and we believe that he is a great fit for our roster."

Not far from where the Celtics play, another large figure on the Boston sports scene spread the news.

"Hey, they signed Shaq here," David "Big Papi" Ortiz, said out loud in the Red Sox clubhouse after taking batting practice at Fenway Park before the game with the Cleveland Indians.

Just which of the two O'Neals will start at center remains uncertain with Perkins recovering from surgery for torn ligaments in his right knee.

"I am very excited," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Adding a player like Shaq is a major plus and it fills a void for our team. He's a real nice piece of the puzzle and he will complement us in where we want to go this coming season."

O'Neal has won three championships with Los Angeles along with his latest, in 2006, with Miami when he was teammates with Dwyane Wade.

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed O'Neal before last season, hoping he could help LeBron James win his first title. O'Neal averaged a career-low 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 53 games, and the Cavaliers lost the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Celtics in six games.

In his last game, O'Neal had 11 points and 4 rebounds in a 94-85 loss in Boston.

That's where he's scheduled to begin his next season in a marquee matchup on Oct. 26 against the Miami Heat with James, Wade and Chris Bosh.

On Tuesday, O'Neal sounded unsure if he would ever play another NBA game after a difficult offseason of uncertainty.

"For me, it's been a real thinking process," he said in Orlando. "I came into the league very graciously and want to go out very graciously. My main thought was I would like to play for a winning franchise, somebody that's used to winning, somebody that keeps winning. Hopefully, I'll make my decision here in the next one or two days."

Now it's been made.

Chelsea have announced that the club has a agreed a fee with La Liga giants Real Madrid for the transfer ofRicardo Carvalho, subject to a medical.

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm it has agreed terms with Real Madrid for the transfer of Ricardo Carvalho," read a statement on the club's official website.

"The transfer is subject to a medical and the player agreeing personal terms.

"Chelsea would like to thank Riccy for his six years of service, and we wish him well in his future career."

Reports in the Spanish and Portuguese media on Tuesday evening had suggested that the defender was on the verge of joining Real, for a fee believed to be around £6.65 million deal. 

A move to Spain will see the 32-year-old reunited with his former coach and mentor Jose Mourinho, and although the Real coach has admitted his interest in the defender, it had appeared that the Portuguese tactician had all-but given up on landing his countryman.

"Ricardo is a good player, but he is of that age where if someone is looking to build a team for the future, he cannot think of him," Mourinho told reporters in Los Angeles.

"Ricardo is a man for the current moment, he is a man with a great professional and private life so he has no problem playing at a high level at the age of 32.

Nevertheless, the 'Special One' has seemingly succeeded in his pursuit, with Real's official website announcing that, "the player [Carvalho] will be under contract at Real Madrid for the next two seasons." 

-- Edited by I-CO on Tuesday 17th of August 2010 09:19:15 PM

On April 6, 2010, the institution of sportswriting ran out of superlatives to describe Lionel Messi. 

The Argentina international had seen his name attached to reports featuring the words 'great' and 'phenomenal' since breaking into the Barcelona team as a teenager, but his virtuoso display in the Champions League against Arsenal was simply, well, I just can't put it into words. 

That night Messi scored four times. But his utter mastery was such that it seemed he had the football on a string attached to his left foot. The English side were helpless, made to look foolish over the course of the match as Messi tore through their shoddy rearguard apart with the ease of a man in a child's game over and over again. 

The whole thing reached a crescendo when he completed a 20-minute first-half hat-trick. His pace, poise and composure made it seem that he had an hour to decide what to do with the ball instead of mere seconds. 

With a strut of his left foot, he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and 90,000 fans from their seats at Camp Nou. If ever a goal were to prompt an involuntary audible response from a viewer, this was it. Poetry. Dominance. The story of Lionel Messi's season.

For those of you not following the news over in the Great White North I will fill you in a little bit.  Last month the distracted driving law came into effect, where-as you will not be able to chat away on a cell phone while driving without risk of incurring a fine of up to $500.  It seems one Canadian politician wants to take it one step further!

Jim Bradlley (Ontarios transportation minister) made this statement Thursday after telling reporters he was proud of the new legislation he helped draft and as they walked away he mentioned his plans to make this law much more encompassing in the near future.  He was quoted as saying; Sure talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous but there are many other activities occuring during driving that are just as dangerous if not more-so.  For example the other day I was almost side-swiped by a man that was completely distracted while picking his nose, and I dont mean just a nose scratch - he was in up to his knuckle.

There has been testing done that has shown that picking your nose while driving is even more dangerous than using a cell phone because of the high occurrences of physical injury while conducting this type of behavior.  I would like to see all types of distractions lead to a hefty fine, my advice for this particular offense would be an $850 fine.

At least one politician finds those comments worrying. Everyone should realize there is no place this government will not go intruding into private lives, Conservative MPP Randy Hillier said.  He went on to say, what is next?  No eating broccoli with dinner due to the possibility of passing of gas into the atmosphere thereby increasing global warming?

Experts have questioned the effectiveness of distracted driving laws. In other jurisdictions they have not always changed drivers habits. After an initial reduction in New York, for example, cellphone use was reportedly back to pre-ban rates within one year.

The insurance industry says the new law is a good first step in making distracted driving socially unacceptable.  In fact Bill Crespen of Waldens Insurance says, personally we would like to see all distractions result in large fines, whether it is picking your nose, applying make-up or talking on a cell phone - they can all potentially kill you.

Well in Taiwan they do!  Yummy, a toilet themed restaurant where you can eat a desert called *la*hdy poop (strawberry sundae) and other disgustingly named foods.

Chris Brown  may be hitting his musical stride again. Notching Greatest Gainer/Airplay honors for a second straight week, the singer is this close to notching a top 10 hit on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with "Deuces." The breakup song-featuring Tyga and Kevin McCall-moves 15-11 in its sixth week on the chart.

Released to iTunes June 29 along with another new Brown song, "No B.S.," "Deuces" moves 60-59 on the Digital Songs chart. Up 11% in digital sales, the song has sold 132,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Deuces" also climbs 67-56 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the singer's return to that tally. Brown last appeared on the Hot 100 last February when "I Can Transform Ya" featuring Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz ended its tenure, peaking at No. 20. "Transform" peaked at No. 11 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The track was the lead single from Brown's third album, "Graffiti," which has sold 316,000.

The "Deuces" momentum follows Brown's emotional tribute to Michael Jackson during the BET Awards in June. While singing "Man in the Mirror," the singer broke down, prompting criticism that the meltdown was staged. Without addressing the detractors, Brown has stayed busy recording and tweeting about new music. He recently polished off a remix of Nicki Minaj's "Your Love" and is featured on a new Twista track, "Make a Movie."

Among the top mainstream R&B radio stations spinning "Deuces" in heavy rotation are KBFB Dallas, WHTD Detroit, KKDA Dallas and WPEG Charlotte, N.C., whose OM/PD Terri Avery says positive audience reaction to Brown at the BET Awards has nothing to do with the song's growing success. "The track, the lyrics . . . it's just a good song."

Brown will next appear in the film "Takers," out Aug. 27. There's no official word from Jive as to when his fourth album will be released. The singer has tweeted that his next CD may arrive in 2011 or sooner, possibly preceded by another mixtape, "In My Zone 2."

This guy was picking his teeth with a pair of scissors and then started laughing and down go the scissors.  Ouch, he lived and is fine!

I would call them gross but in Taiwan apparently you will be calling Huang Yuyen the winner of a mosquitoes collecting contest?!?!  A  Taiwanese woman just might be the worlds top exterminator after catching three-and-a-half pounds worth of mosquitoes in a month.The Telegraph reports that Huang Yuyen from the Yunlin county in southern Taiwan easily beat out 72 other contestants in a contest organized by an insect trap-making company to see who could capture the most mosquitoes. The second-place winners haul was less than half of what Huang had.

Imbictus International, the company behind the contest, is requesting that Huangs efforts be recognized by Guinness World Records.  I wonder if they were dead or alive?

Richie Loop - Contributed

With his song My Cupp blowing across the region and along the eastern seaboard of the United States, emerging star Richie Loop is about to embark on a promotional tour of the United States as he reaches for greater success in the music industry.

The 23-year-old producer-singer exploded on to the scene earlier this year, less than a year after joining the Scikron Entertainment/Big Yard label. His hit party song My Cupp is dominating music charts all over. The song is currently number one in Toronto and on the Chris Coxsone Reggae Charts in New York Style UK; number three on the Caribbean Top 20 charts and on the Digicel Caribbean Top 30 charts; number six on the South Florida Top 25 Reggae Charts and number seven on the NY Reggae Charts.

He also has several other songs getting frequent airplay, including Party Like it's your Birthday with D-Major and Busy Signal, She Wants it Good, Party Time and Mi Want Mi Own.

But under the guidance of Robert Livingston, Richie Loop is planning to strike while the iron, or in this case, My Cupp is hot. So, accompanied by the Big Yard CEO, Richie Loop will leave on Sunday to take on the US East Coast for a month.

loop's schedule

Based on his schedule, Richie Loop is down to make appearances on September 2 in Boston on Jammin' 94.5 with Pup Dog; September 3 at 102 Jams Reggae Fest at Club Lux in Orlando, Florida; September 4 at Anything Goes: The Labour Day Edition in Manhattan, New York; September 5 at Mr Cee's Five Alarm Blaze also in New York; September 16 at WZMX radio show in New Haven, Connecticut; September 17 at the Hot 106 Reggae Show at Lupo's Heart Break Hotel on Rhode Island and on September 30 at DJ Pup Dog Party at the Roxy Nightclub in Boston.

The schedule seems daunting but Loop says he is preparing for it and remains focused. "I am not overly excited. I am staying focused and just getting ready for the tour," said the young entertainer, who also had a hand in producing reggae star Gentleman's hit To The Top that features Chris Martin.

The tour, he says, is an opportunity for people to get to know him. "I just want people to see me for who I am, both onstage and off," he said.

A 19-year-old man who concealed ganja in his back pocket while he attended court to answer to a ganja charge, was sentenced for two separate incidents of ganja possession yesterday.

Charged with possession of ganja is Daniel Smith.

At least an hour after Smith was taken into custody by police officers to serve 30 days imprisonment, a small quantity of ganja was found in his possession.

One of the officers who returned Smith to face the Resident Magistrate explained to the court that he smelt the drug in the cell and after doing a search, found the ganja in Smith's back pocket.

A nervous Smith initially denied having the ganja as he faced Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey for the second time that day.

He later admitted to having the ganja after RM Pusey sternly asked him whose pocket the ganja was found in, and who placed it there. Smith later commented, "a me put it dere yuh Honour."

RM Pusey, who was not amused, gave Smith a strong warning before sentencing him to three months at hard labour to run concurrent with the 30 days given for the initial charge of ganja possession

A 19-year-old boy who claimed he was gay yesterday told to a resident magistrate that he would kill himself if he was sentenced.

The teen, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty with explanation to charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and robbery with aggravation.

While appearing in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, the accused said that he and the male complainant were friends and lovers.

The 27-year-old complainant from Kingston told the court that on August 7, while he was on his way home, the teen, who he admitted was his friend, was walking behind him and then started throwing stones at him.

A fight later developed between them. The complainant said he sustained several injuries to his hand, right shoulder and left side. He was treated at the Kingston Public Hospital and released. The complainant also reported that his friend stole his Nokia flashlight phone, valued about $2,500, and robbed him of $5,000.

However, the accused took pride in amusing the court, stating that they were lovers and "if you sentence me, mi a go kill miself". He explained that if the complainant goes back to his hang-out spot there is a possibility that men who knew about their case would kill him for taking the matter to court.

Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey sentenced him to three months' imprisonment, suspended for six months.

Some women in west Kingston are now living in fear as word is being circulated that thugs who recently fled the community are planning to return, and take action against those persons who informed on them to the police.

THE STAR has learnt that some female residents in Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town and sections of Hannah Town have been labelled informers by men from the communities.

The men who vowed to challenge the security forces in defence of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, had fled after the Labour Day invasion.

Following the pounding of the community by the security forces, subsequent operations led to the seizure of more than 100 illegal guns, thousands of assorted ammunition and also the arrest of several men. The police also released the identities of several persons believed to be linked to the lawlessness which once gripped the community.

These developments have led some residents, mostly men, to believe the police are acting on information being supplied by women.

"A nuff woman dung yah a fret now, cause talk a go roun' seh when some a di man dem come back nuff a dem a guh get push out cause dem a informa," one male resident, who gave his name as Jacob, said when THE STAR visited the community yesterday.

During a chat with other men who joined the conversation, they claimed the women worked with the security forces as they had long wanted to see the fall of 'the system'.

punishments

According to the men, under the system, residents were governed by the rules and laws of Dudus, who could hand down punishment to those who violated them.

"A nuff a dem did waa see di system mash up eno. But dem fi memba seh a it use to keep di order inna west Kingston and mek it one a di safest place inna Jamaica," another man who requested anonymity said. "Nuff a dem nuh waa tek talk from nobody so a that why dem a work wid di babylon dem."

A number of women with whom THE STAR also spoke, admitted to being fearful of what might occur if the thugs who fled the community return.

"Word a go roun' seh a di woman dem a help di police find gun and a call up man name. Is a serious thing eno, cause when people seh yuh a informer dem a guh deal wid yu a way. And inna dem place yah when dem seh yu a informer a kill dem waa kill yu," one woman explained.

Others expressed similar thoughts but all said they were unaware of any woman who could be assisting the police with information.

Meanwhile, the police in west Kingston say while they have not picked up on the situation, they believe the accusations arise from the splendid relationship which residents and the police now share.

"The police and residents are having an excellent relationship, so it may be due to that fact," a Denham Town policeman said.

Head of the division, Deputy Superintendent Arthur Brown, said he was not aware of the fears of the women and promised to check if there was any truth to it and act accordingly.

He also appealed to the residents to continue working with the police for the improvemment of the community.

"I want to appeal to residents to work at strengthening the lovely partnership we have and not make criminals interfere," he said.

http://tupiz.com/2010/08/nicole-alexander-engaged-to-shaquille-o%E2%80%99neal/

Nicole Alexander Engaged To Shaquille ONeal? In an event that could only occur as part of the VH1 Circle Of Life Celebreality, frequent VH1 reality show contestant Nicole Hoopz Alexander is rumored to be dating NBA legend Shaquille ONeal, who himself is just six months or so removed from his bitter divorce from ex-wife Shaunie, who you all know as the executive producer of Basketball Wives. What a mouthful!

Anyway, TMZ reported that Shaq was the victim of a prank perpetrated by Hoopz who, youll recall, won both the first season of Flavor of Love and I Love Money at a Tennessee area Waffle House.  Read the whole story at blog.vh1.

Contraband being shipped from Jamaica to England

Cincinnati - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Cincinnati DHL express consignment operation seized more than 52 pounds of marijuana last week. While the seizure of marijuana being smuggled into the country is nothing new to these officers, the method of concealment was something they had never seen before

While conducting enforcement operations the officers became suspicious of a tombstone being shipped from Kingston, Jamaica to London, England.

Why would someone ship a tombstone? was the first thought of the officers. CBP narcotics detection dog Rouge alerted aggressively to the parcel and an x-ray examination revealed anomalies which resulted in the discovery of packages of marijuana.

The packages were concealed within a metal box, wrapped in metal mesh and hidden inside the concrete tombstone. The street value of the marijuana is approximately $52,000.

This method of concealment further shows the great lengths drug smugglers will use to try to hide their product, said Brian Humphrey, acting CBP director of field operations in Chicago. I am very pleased with the officers' use of their intuition, experience and available resources in the detection and interdiction of this marijuana shipment.

CBP officers and agriculture specialists are stationed at the express consignment facilities located throughout the country. CBP constantly conducts enforcement operations on international parcels and on the lookout for any type of contraband or prohibited items being shipped to the U.S.

-- Edited by jubalson on Tuesday 24th of August 2010 01:49:16 PM

Men posing as furniture and appliance salesmen are scamming unsuspecting persons in the Three Miles area of St Andrew of large sums of money.

THE STAR has learnt that in recent times a group of men who hang out at a bus stop along Spanish Town Road have been approaching persons and advertising their so-called ability to get items of furniture and appliances at bargain prices.

The men claim to be employees of a number of companies which sell such commodities, and in some cases they are even said to possess fake identification cards which they use to verify their employment.

According to one victim, Maria Lindsay, she was waiting on a bus to take her to Spanish Town, St Catherine, on July 17, when she was approached by two men, both dressed in khaki pants and white shirts and sporting identification cards which suggested they were employed to a popular store.

She said the men told her they could get a back-door deal on a dresser for $10,000. After deliberating, the woman said she went to a nearby ATM machine and withdrew the money before going back to the men and looking to secure the deal.

She further said she was promised the dresser within the next three days but she is yet to see the men or the items.

She also claimed that upon going back to the area she learnt she was scammed after relating the incident to persons who told her she was not the only one to fall for the trick.

The so-called salesmen were missing when THE STAR visited the area yesterday, but a number of persons claimed the men have to always be on the lookout for those they have conned and, as such, they do not operate with a set time.

"Yea, man is a big thing out yah. Di man dem a con di people dem and a promise dem TV, computer, component set, furniture and dem thing deh. Mi deh yah every day and a whole heap a time mi witness dem a trick people," a security guard who operates at a warehouse along Spanish Town Road said.

A number of passers-by also claim to have heard of the men and their scam.

"Yea man! A di new lick out yah. A nuff people dem fool up. Mi cyaa believe people fool suh," one woman said.

When THE STAR contacted the Hunts Bay CIB, a detective corporal admitted knowledge of the scam, claiming the police have received information that the men involved in the act are from the nearby Majesty Gardens community.

The police say persons have submitted reports, at least four over the past month, and investigations are ongoing.

"It is something that has happened in recent times. We have some information we are working with and, hopefully, these men can be caught. We are appealing to persons to be careful with their money and not be so gullible," the cop said.

Happy after signing three-year sponsorship extension

A season-ending injury hasn't stopped Usain Bolt from celebrating. The world's fastest man turned 24 over the weekend and yesterday signed a three-year contract extension with German apparel company Puma said to be the biggest for a track and field athlete.

And although the world-record holder at 100 and 200 metres may be able to buy just about anything he wants because of his new sponsorship deal, he couldn't even wrangle himself a proper birthday party back home in Jamaica.

"I didn't know what to do," said Bolt, who was in his country on his birthday for the first time in seven years. "So I just chilled. We went out and had a couple of drinks."

Although contract terms of the deal were not released, Puma chairman and chief executive officer Jochen Zeitz said Bolt would be the "best-paid athlete in track and field history."

Reports yesterday speculated that the new package could run in the region of US$400 million.

"It's good, man. I'm happy," Bolt told The Associated Press by phone. "I'm very happy with the figure."

Bolt set world records in the 100 and 200 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and helped Jamaica capture another gold and set another world record in the 4x100 relay. A year later, he again set world records in the 100 and 200 at the world championships in Berlin.

Bolt said this month he is cutting short his 2010 season short because of his ailing back. Now he is pain free and looking forward to defending his sprint titles at the 2011 worlds and the 2012 London Olympics.

"I'm trying to make myself a legend," he said. "People are really looking forward to me breaking records. I'm going to go run hard to win, that's my aim. And every time I go out there and run hard to win, I get records."

At the Bird's Nest in Beijing, the lanky Jamaican's effusive personality endeared him to fans, but not to IOC president Jacque Rogge.

Zeitz said Puma intends to make Bolt a centerpiece in its Olympic marketing program and use him to help develop footwear and other apparel. Bolt first signed with Puma, which also sponsors the Jamaican Olympic Association and the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association, when he was 16.

"He's not just an athlete that promotes performance products but he's also an athlete that transcends well beyond his sport into lifestyle, and that's where we see the opportunity," Zeitz said.

Chairman and Cchief executive officer of PUMA AG, Jochen Zeitz, called the sprinter a "revelation" for track and field, adding that Bolt's personality and phenomenal physical prowess were a unique combination.

"From a performance standpoint, he has reset the bar for speed on the track, and we're not sure he's even hit his top gear yet. It's going to be an exciting few years ahead and we're thrilled to be along for the ride," he said.

"PUMA gets me; we fit together," Bolt said. "PUMA's been by my side since the beginning, before anyone knew what I was capable of achieving...

"We've been together since forever," Bolt said. "I like the fashion, so they try to make it fashionable for me. ... I'm looking good, but I'm also prepared."

Former world record-holder Asafa Powell recently signed a deal with Chinese apparel company Li Ning reported to be worth between US$250,000 and US$750,000 per year, while Miami Heat basketballer Lebron James earlier this year renewed his shoe deal with Nike which when first signed in 2003 was worth more than US$90 million.

When Sports Illustrated published its 2009 list of 50 highest paid Americans and 20 highest paid international athletes, there were no track and field athletes on either list which was dominated by basketball and baseball players.

Edwards suggested that while Bolt has not been around for as long as golfer Tiger Woods, who is the highest-earning sports star in the world with earnings of US$1 billion, he is arguably a better bet.

"Tall, athletic, personable, charismatic, articulate, cool yet modest, he (Bolt) packs more firepower for advertisers than the geeky Woods," Edwards said.

"Bolt is clean-cut and has managed to avoid any salacious and lurid headlines," he added, making reference to Woods' fall from grace after reports of extra-marital affairs which eventually led to his divorce.

PUMA, which saw its earnings skyrocket following Bolt's record-breaking exploits in Beijing, also sponsors the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) and the Jamaican Olympic Association (JOA).

In addition, the company sponsors seven local high school track teams, including ISSA GraceKennedy Boys champions Wolmer's and sister school Wolmer's Girls'; Calabar, and St Jago.

They are also involved with other local athletic events including the Gibson Relays and the annual Reggae Marathon.

-- Edited by jubalson on Wednesday 25th of August 2010 01:18:44 PM

The police in Portland are looking into the death of an 18-year-old man who was reportedly stabbed and killed while at a river party on Sunday, supposedly over an argument about a girl with whom one of the men was dancing.

The teenager was reportedly stabbed then pronounced dead at the Port Antonio hospital following an altercation with another man while they were patrons at a dance at Rivers View, Rio Grande Valley, in the parish early Sunday morning.

The dead man has been identified as Daniel Blair of Windsor, also in the parish.

Police reports are the two men were at a dance when a dispute developed between them.

Things reportedly took a turn for the worst when a knife was brought into play and Blair was stabbed in the right side of his chest.

Police sources from the division told THE STAR they have heard the two men were at odds for a while and have had previous run-ins with each other.

Their paths crossed again while at the party and are said to have become involved in a heated argument, after one of the men was seen 'daggering' a female said to be a close friend of the other.

"Investigations are ongoing but nothing is confirmed just yet. But based on what we have heard so far the two men had been at odds for a while now and things boiled over while they were at the party," a detective corporal from the parish said when contacted yesterday. "We heard that one saw the other dancing with a woman said to be close to the other and that started the argument. This is one of the arguments we will be looking into."

A 20-year-old who was taken into custody was not charged up to press time last night.

( L - R ) Bounty Killer, Cobra - File photos

Dancehall producer, John John has re-released a slew of dancehall tracks which will be marketed digitally by the revolutionary digital distribution company, 21st/Hapilos and made available to fans on September 7.

John John Records is known for its dedication to authentic dancehall beats and voicing top veteran acts in the industry and the five projects are no different. The albums are compilations of 'oldies but goodies' and they include: Dancehall Hits Volume 1 featuring: Bounty Killer, Junior Cat, Terror Fabulous, Major Mackerel and more; Dancehall Hits Volume 2; Dancehall Hits Volume 3 - Splur Ting Excursion; Dancehall Hits Volume 4 and Dancehall Hits Volume 5 - Pop Style, featuring Terry Ganzie, Mad Cobra, Sanchez, Louis Culture and more.

Johnny Wonder, executive vice president of 21st/Hapilos Digital Distribution says, "The tunes are dancehall classics and have been digitally remastered for the normal consumer and the record collectors just the same. All the tracks will be marketed by 21st/Hapilos via every major online outlet including Amazon, iTunes and others. These are five great must-haves."

Among the projects that 21st/Hapilos Digital Distribution have spearheaded are: ZJ Chrome's CR203 Records' Smokin' Riddim; Wayne Marshall's My Heart, featuring Mavado; Troyton Records' Compassion Riddim; Chimney Records' Sex Appeal; Shabba Ranks' new single, Drive Dem Crazy produced by John John Records; Pleasure Riddim by Cash Flow; Mavado's hot single, Messiah produced by Chimney Records in addition to Seanizzle's One Day Riddim and more

An alleged attempt by a woman to smuggle ganja and a knife inside a jail cell to her son, has landed her in trouble with the law.

The woman, Adina Johnson, 58-year-old of Linstead, St Catherine, has been charged with possession of ganja and an offensive weapon.

She was granted bail when she appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court yesterday.

Allegations are that on August 18, about 3:30 p.m., Johnson went to the Spanish Town police lock-up to look for her son.

The court was further informed that she presented a bag with items of food including a spice bun.

While the police checked the goods, the bun was opened.

It was then that a transparent plastic bag was found with ganja and a ratchet knife was found in the bun. Johnson was subsequently charged.

She pleaded not guilty when she appeared in court and was granted bail in the sum of $30,000.

The accused is to return to court on November 23, when the case will again be mentioned.

The police in Manchester are investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident involving a man who was allegedly buggered by his cousin.

Information gathered through the Constabulary Communication Network and police sources from the parish suggest that the incident occurred on August 8, in the Somerset community of the parish.

Investigators were reluctant in giving out the details of the incident, but say the complainant who is in his early 20s reported that he was taken into bushes against his will and buggered by his cousin.

A report was made to the Mandeville CIB.

"We can confirm that such a report was made but it is a very sensitive issue and we are investigating," a corporal said when THE STAR contacted the Mandeville CIB yesterday.

Meanwhile, word of the incident has reached the other sections of the parish and is being hotly discussed.

One male resident of Cross Keys when contacted by THE STAR said: "Mi hear 'bout it, yes, but mi neva believe. Mi all hear people from other area wid di same argument."

THE second time seems to be the charm for Chantal Raymond. After a previous attempt at the Miss Jamaica World title in 2008, she decided to give it a shot this year, and on Saturday night, walked away with the title, prizes and the opportunity to represent Jamaica at Miss World in Sanya, China, later this year.

Just minutes after her coronation, it was an excited, yet extremely composed Raymond who explained to the Observer that she did not feel that she gave the contest her all on her first attempt. "This is something I have always wanted to do, however the first time I did it for the fun. This time, however, I was more determined to put in the work required to get the desired results," she stated

She clearly gave it her all from the opening number and by the end of the night she was reaping the benefits. Second place went to 23-year-old student Kerry Moxam, while architecture major at Utech, 21-year-old Amanda-Lee McCreath was third. Both these contestants enjoyed a large following on Saturday night.

The three-hour show comprised the segments that have become customary for these pageants -- swimwear and evening gown parade and interview. The night was punctuated with the inclusion of recording artistes I-Octane, Cherine Anderson and Wasp, who all represented themselves well.

The strains of Shaggy's Strength of a Woman ushered in the elegant eveningwear parade, which saw the contestants wearing glittering gowns courtesy of Bling Bling. For some, this was where the contest ended, as the field of 16 contestants was cut to 10.

The winners of the fast-track mini competitions who gained automatic entry into the top 10 were then announced. Raymond won both the Talent competition and the People's Choice Public Vote, Kerry Moxam -- Beach Beauty, Salome Campbell -- Model, Deandra Doyley -- Sport and Shanique Mongal who took the Beauty with a Purpose Award. They were joined by Amanda Lee McCreath, Samantha Moore, Simone Poot, Simone Barrett and Alexia McLean. McCreath would later win the award for Most Aware, and Poot was voted Most Congenial by her fellow contestants.

The judges then chopped the group in half, and those left standing where Raymond, Moore, Moxam, McCreath and Poot.

Raymond, a graduate of the prestigious Harvard Law School, was definitely among the night's favourites inside the ballroom of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. She seemed to have sealed her fate from here on with her calm, clear and concise response to the question posed by judge Karen Harriot-Wilson, who asked her thoughts on what was required for local actors to make it on the international stage. Raymond called for Jamaicans at home and abroad to lend support to this group as a means of assisting their career. This left her a clear front-runner. However, the other finalists were determined not to be push overs. Moxam, the beauty from Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, and Poot, the attorney educated in The Netherlands were also stand-outs.

The show, staged and produced by Weston Haughton, lacked the panache and style of previous years. Paula Ann Porter's excellent skills came in handy as she was able to fill gaps in the show though interviews and ad libs.

Raymond will seek to continue Jamaica's rich heritage at Miss World. Jamaica has won the crown on three occasions: Carole Joan Crawford 1963, Cindy Breakespeare 1976 and Lisa Hanna 1993.

Jamaica has always enjoyed favourable placings in international pageants and local delegates are usually singled out at the start of such events. However, Monday night's second place finish by Yendi Phillipps, is Jamaica's highest placing at Miss Universe. The closest Jamaica has ever fared was in 1991, when international model, Kimberly Mais took 5th place.

Speaking to the Observer yesterday, Kimberly pointed to a number of similarities between her year and the 2010 pageant. That year the pageant was also held in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Miss Mexico also won the pageant back then.

Commenting on Yendi's performance, a clearly proud Kimberly noted that Yendi's second place was a major accomplishment. "I was anxious, nervous and excited all in one. I was grabbing my children's hands as we watched. It was amazing to see her on stage, a true fighter and competitor from the start to the very end, she did everything right...nothing wrong. She truly made me feel proud," she gushed.

When asked to comment on Yendi's choice of evening gown, which many feel denied her the crown, Kimberly paused, then noted that Jamaica's representatives are limited in their choice based on resources, compared to other countries. She added, "Yendi must have felt it was the right gown for her, and in my estimation, she was able to carry it off with confidence."

Another former Miss Jamaica Universe, Angelie Martin, also defended Yendi's evening gown. "I helped prepare Yendi prior to her departure for Miss Universe and I know she worked closely with designer Karl Williams of Uzuri to create the dress. She chose the colour -- turquoise -- as she felt it went well with her skin tone, and also preferred that silhouette which she agreed worked for her body type." However, Angelie did note that Yendi placed second in the evening gown competition, therefore it could have been felt that this helped to bring down her overall scores.

"What' she needed was a gown to take everyone's breath away once she stepped on stage and Miss Mexico seemed to do that based on the judges scores," she explained. Angelie, who represented Jamaica at Miss Universe in The Philippines in 1994, was however quick to say how proud she was of Yendi's performance, stating that the hard work the 24-year-old queen had put in paid good dividends and that both Yendi and Jamaica should be proud of her achievements.

In the past 21 years Jamaica has made it into the semi-finals at Miss Universe on five occasions. In 1989 Sandra Foster placed ninth in the pageant which was held in Cancun, Mexico. Two years later Kimberly Mais made it to the sixth spot. It would be another 10 years before another local queen broke the top 10 barrier. In 1999 Nicole Haughton copped the ninth sport in the finals in Trinidad & Tobago. Five year's later, in 2004 in Ecuador, Christine Straw took Jamaica into the top 10. Yendi's performance is the best -ever showing by Jamaica at Miss Universe.

 

The story of Adolf Hitler could be the most twisted in all of history. Add one more twist.

Responsible for the slaughter of millions of Jews and a hero only to self-avowed racists, DNA tests apparently show that the Nazi dictator may have had Jewish and African ancestry.

Several media outlets have reported onresults published last weekinKnack, a magazine in Belgium.

The British newspaperThe Daily Telegraphsays thatsaliva samples were collected from 39 Hitler relatives:

A chromosome called Haplogroup E1b1b1 which showed up in their samples is rare in Western Europe and is most commonly found in the Berbers of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, as well as among Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews ...

Haplogroup E1b1b1, which accounts for approximately 18 to 20 per cent of Ashkenazi and 8.6 per cent to 30 per cent of Sephardic Y-chromosomes, appears to be one of the major founding lineages of the Jewish population.

Many victims of Hitler's Holocaust, like Anne Frank, were Ashkenazi.

Another British paper,The Sun,identified more of the people involvedand how two of the samples were obtained:

A journalist working for a magazine in Brussels managed to get hold of a sample from Alexander Stuart-Houston, 61, a grand-nephew of Hitler living in America, after picking up a serviette he had dropped.

Reporter Jean-Paul Mulders used the services of historian Marc Vermeeren to find Hitler's Austrian cousin, a farmer called Norbert H, and 39 other distant relatives of the Fuehrer.

Norbert H apparently gave a saliva sample willingly.

Story continues below

"Hitler would not have been happy," said Professor Ronny Decorte ina Google translationof theKnack's web-version of the story. Decorte, a genetics expert fromKatholieke Universiteit Leuven(a Flemish research university), says that Hitler apparently wasn't "Aryan" -- what the Nazi would have considered "pure." But the research doesn't seem to be conclusive with respect to which groups Hitler may have descended from.

Hitler's preoccupation with ancestry -- including his own -- has caused speculation for many years.New York Daily Newspoints out that this researchcould validate a historic myth:

Hitler's heritage has been called into question before, with some suggesting his grandfather was Jewish. But this is the first claim with any scientific data to support it.

Similar reports have been made against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly denied the Holocaust occurred and regularly bashes Israel.

Knacksays that Russia possesses artifacts from Hitler that would contain his DNA, and that researchers could end the speculation if they were allowed to test those items.

Most people have had thoughts of getting fired from their job and making sure they go out with a bang. Actually i shouldnt use that reference in this day in age because far too often there really are 'bangs' courtesy of a disgruntled employee's gun. But anyway,, while many have had the thoughts, most people just quietly leave the premises and go drink away the pain until plotting out the next step in their life.

Well this chef in Florida definetly was going out quietly. He's seen here on CCTV footage going crazy in the kitchen. There's no audio unfortunately but from his actions coupled with the fear seen by some of the employees its obvious he wasnt fooling around.

He was really getting his point across to everyone.....until a fist came across his face lol.

'

Left: Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillips competes in the evening gown section during the Miss Universe pageant, Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 in Las Vegas. Right: Yendi in swim wear. Phillips was named runner-up. - AP

Jamaica produced its best-ever placing at a Miss Universe pageant last night, when Yendi Phillips took the runner-up spot to Mexico's Jimena Navarrete at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas, USA.

Phillips and Navarrette went neck and neck after receiving the two highest averages in the swimsuit and evening gown sections (9.155 and 9.089 respectively) with the question and answer section deciding the eventual winner. In the end, Mexico's answer to a question on unsupervised Internet use and its effects on youths was apparently better than Jamaica's answer to that of the continued use of the death penalty. This is Mexico's second win; its first was in 1991.

question and answer

The show, hosted by Brett Michaels and Natalie Morales, was divided in three segments - swimsuit, which showcased the top 15 (chosen before last night's final), evening gown, which showed the top 10 (chosen after swimsuit) and question-and-answer which had the top 5 averages in both sections.

The top five chosen were Ukraine, Mexico, Australia, Jamaica and the crowd favourite, the Philippines. Other crowd favourites, Miss USA and Miss Venezuela, failed to advance to the top 15. Live entertainment was provided by John Legend and the Roots as well as Cirque du Soleil.

In a surprising twist, Philippines' Maria Venus Raj was the fourth runner-up after receiving an average score of 8.835 in the swimsuit and gown sections, and failing to adequately answer her question. Ukraine and Australia were 4th and 3rd, respectively.

proud achievement

In a release sent last night, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange described Yendi's feat as "a proud achievement". "Yendi has made Jamaica very proud and I am confident she will continue to be an outstanding ambassador for our country," Grange said. "She is such a wonderful person, a real Jamaican inspiration. She deserves all the success. I congratulate the winner, Jimena Navarette of Mexico; and offer her our best wishes."

The minister's sentiments were also shared globally via social networks, Twitter as well as Yendi's Facebook fan page. One fan on her page wrote, "Congratulations from Curacao! You deserved to win! Your answer was superb!"

Another from Twitter said, "When all is said and done @Therealyendip (her twitter account) represented Jamaica to the fullest and the best of her ability. #teamyendi wi seh same way!"

Make sure you get plenty of sleep before going to court.

Clifton Williams didn't and he's been sentenced to six months in jail for yawning.

"I was flabbergasted because I didn't realize a judge could do that," Williams' father, Clifton Williams Sr., told the Chicago Tribune. "It seems to me like a yawn is an involuntary action."

Williams, 33, attended his cousin's July hearing at Will County Courthouse in Joliet. His cousin, Jason Mayfield, pled guilty to a felony drug charge. As the judge sentenced Mayfield to two years probation, Williams let out a yawn, an involuntary faux pas in such a formal setting.

Circuit Judge Daniel Rozak thought the yawn was criminal and sentenced Williams to six months in jail, the maximum penalty for contempt of court without a jury trial. Rozak's order said that Williams "raised his hands while at the same time making a loud yawning sound," causing a disrespectful interruption in court.

So in a strange turn of events Mayfield, the felon, will be able to walk freely, while Williams, the yawner, will have to spend at least three weeks behind bars for his offending yawn. But it's not out of character for Rozak.

Contempt of court charges are typically issued when a judge feels someone is challenging or ignoring the court's authority, e.g., yelling at a judge, ignoring subpoenas, appearing in court drunk, etc.

But Rozak runs a tight ship. He has charged people who cuss in reaction to a sentencing and even jailed spectators whose cell phones interrupt proceedings. In fact, the Chicago Tribune found that Rozak has sentenced more spectators to jail for infractions involving cell phones than any other judge in Will County in the last decade.

Of the 30 judges in the 12th Judicial Circuit, Rozak has brought more than a third of all the contempt charges in the last 10 years.

"This is ridiculous -- you've got all these people shooting up kids, and here this boy yawns in court [and gets 6 months]. It's crazy," said Williams' 79-year-old grandmother

 

 

Fantasia says she knew exactly what she was doing when she overdosed earlier this monthshe was trying to kill herself.

In an interview with VH1, 26-year-old Fantasia claims she was so depressed about all of the drama surrounding her relationship with a married man that, I didnt have any fight in me. I didnt care about anything. I just wanted out.

Fantasia added, At that moment, I wanted out. I wanted it to be over with all of it, all of that [expletive].

She went on, I just sat in the closet and looked at the mirror and took all the pills in the bottle. I wanted to go to sleep and just be at peace. I knew exactly what I was doing. You cant accidentally take a whole bottle of pills.

I was tired of people doing me wrong, constantly, over and over again, dealing with my family my father, dealing with men and their %&%* I was tired, she says of the incident. My head was hurting me. I was over it.

Fantasias Behind the Music interview, airs 9 p.m. ET/PT tomorow, the same day her new album, Back to Me, is released.

Cash Money Records' co-founder Baby has compared his artist Lil Wayne to the late pop icon Michael Jackson and reveals the high hopes he has for the rapper when he returns from jail.

Former top-flight entertainer, Garfield 'Zebra' Vassell, was relocated from the Spanish Town lock-up recently after it is alleged that he threw urine on a policeman.

Vassell, who is facing a rape charge in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court, was reported to have done the act early last week.

Since the incident, THE STAR has learnt that the deejay was transferred to the Portmore police lock-up.

Allegations are that the incident occurred after Vassell started to defy the rules of officers on duty at the jail. He is reported to have confronted an officer and then the liquid was thrown on him. The police is reported to have then subdued the accused.

In the meanwhile, the preliminary inquiry in the deejay's rape case starts today in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court and will continue tomorrow.

Yesterday, Vassell told the court that he was on doctor's treatment as a result of being beaten when the incident took place at the lock- up.

His appearance in court arose from an incident in April 2009, when he is said to have sexually assaulted the daughter of his girlfriend.

Vassell had completed a 10-year sentence for rape in July 2008.

The deejay is known for hits like Redder dan red and Rupert.

-- Edited by jubalson on Tuesday 24th of August 2010 12:17:29 PM

Deejay Ninja Man is contending that he was denied bail on a murder charge because the judge was misinformed that he was the leader of a gang called the Umbrella Crew.

The 44-year-old deejay, whose real name is Desmond Ballentine, has been in custody since early 2009.

He is charged with murder, along with his son Janiel and two others, and the deejay has filed documents in the Supreme Court seeking leave to go to the Judicial Review Court to get orders to quash the judge's decision so he can be admitted to bail.

Ballentine is claiming that the prosecutor, who was ill-informed by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, misled Mr Justice Lennox Campbell that he was the head of a gang called the Umbrella Crew. Ballentine said he established the Jamaica All for Peace One Umbrella Movement Ltd in April 2008 to campaign for peace and to assist the less fortunate in the society.

He has also submitted affidavits in which he is alleging that because of his peace campaign, witnesses were solicited by a relative of the deceased to tell lies that he committed the murder.

community activity

The director of public prosecutions is named as the respondent in the claim.

Attorney-at-law Hannah Harris-Barrington, who is representing Ballentine, has submitted recommendations from Robert Montague, minister of state for Local Government and Lenworth Taylor, school principal, both confirming that Ballentine was involved in community activities in St Mary and was now in the process of building some classrooms at the Jacks River Primary School in the parish.

A date is to be set for Ballentine's application for leave to go to the Judicial Review Court.

Ballentine is charged jointly with his son Janiel, Seymour Samuels and Dennis Clayton, for the murder of Richard Johnson.

It is being alleged that on March 16, 2009, Johnson was sweeping his yard in the company of a friend on Mall Road, St Andrew, when a motor car with three men aboard drove up. An argument developed between Johnson's friend and the men, who left but later returned with guns blazing. Johnson was fatally shot in the incident.

Ninja Man turned himself in to the police shortly after the incident, upon hearing that he was being sought as a person of interest in the case.

Samuels is on bail while the others are in custody. They are to return to the Home Circuit Court on October 1

THE St Catherine North police have released the names of 20 girlfriends or mothers of persons of interest who are being sought for questioning by them.

The persons of interest are members of the Spanish Town-based One Order and Klansman Gangs.

The women are:

 

 

Sharon James, mother of Tesha Miller;

Peta Gaye Bunda, otherwise called Qunnie, girlfriend of Jermaine Morrision, who is also called Speedy;

Natalie Fergurson, girlfriend of Renard Harrison, otherwise called Rodrick;

Tiffany Thomas, girlfriend of Nevardo Hodges;

Sophia King, otherwise called Caren, mother of Jowell or Rowell Jennings, also known as J J;

Nava Lee Branford, girlfriend of Vaughn Wint, otherwise called Vagga;

Patricia Williams, girlfriend of Wayne Douglas, otherwise called Toney;

Sherleen Green, girlfriend of Christopher Johnson, otherwise called Pepper;

Vivia Clarke, mother of Myron Hawkins, otherwise called Ice;

Millicent Brown, mother of Andrae Bryan, otherwise called Blackman;

Andrea Gayle, otherwise called Joy, girlfriend of Simeon Helwig;

Pauline Rodney, mother of Marlon McLeary, otherwise called Ritchie Blacks;

Charmaine Johnson, mother of Rohan Hope, otherwise called Placka;

Samantha Minott, wife of Everton Minott, otherwise called Rado;

Carla Deacon, girlfriend of Dalton Thomas, otherwise called Jassman;

Norma Hamilton, mother of Winston Sewell, otherwise called Ice Man;

Diana Morris, girlfriend of Courtney Vassell, otherwise called Terro Blacks;

Venisha Campbell, girlfriend of Lucien Simpson, otherwise called Kevin;

Monica Bright, mother of Fitzroy Matthias, otherwise called Scuffler; and

Nickeisha McIntosh, girlfriend of Anthony Barrett, who is also called Saddle Head

 

-- Edited by jubalson on Tuesday 24th of August 2010 01:38:38 PM

A man purporting to be a high ranking policeman and who is accused of soliciting sex from females, was brought before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court last Friday.

Charged with forgery, resisting arrest and soliciting prostitution is Richard Lewis.

Lewis was allegedly found in possession of a forged police identification card along with several résumés submitted by females.

The court was informed that Lewis, who has numerous aliases, including ,Anthony, Tony, Rickey, and Donovan Smith, pretended to be a businessman seeking to employ females and then offering them large sums of cash for sexual favours.

According to police reports presented in court, Lewis allegedly told several female complainants that he could secure jobs for them. They were then asked to show up for interviews at different locations but were asked for sexual favours and offered money in order to secure job positions.

promised a job

Lewis was taken into police custody on August 12, after a female complainant whom he had promised a job, contacted a detective and informed him of a scheduled meeting she had with Lewis.

The complainant then went to the meeting place under police surveillance.

On that day, Lewis is said to have displayed a large amount of cash to the complainant before returning the money to his pocket. The complainant then signalled the police officers who approached them and asked Lewis to accompany them to the Cross Roads Police Station.

Lewis is said to have told the police he did nothing wrong and wanted to be released. He reportedly became boisterous while he pleaded his innocence and then tried to break free from the police.

After arriving at the police station, Lewis was searched and found in possession of the forged police identification card and several female résumés. He also had a TRN Card, a national identification card and a condom.

The police later contacted the females listed on the résumés via telephone and were informed of various scenarios of how and where they met and the different aliases used by Lewis.

Lewis expressed his innocence in court and pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He also informed the court that the police were lying on him and he wanted to go home to be with his wife and children.

Lewis was remanded until September 20.

Security guard electrocuted

Security guard Peter Whyte, 28, of Falmouth, Trelawny, was electrocuted at Summer Hill in the parish yesterday. Police said about 3:45 p.m., Whyte was on duty at a construction company when a passer-by heard him screaming. He was later found hanging from the branch of an ackee tree which got entangled with Jamaica Public Service wires.

-- Edited by jubalson on Tuesday 24th of August 2010 11:43:11 AM