Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
Sharon Powell looks at burnt-out furniture in the upstairs living room of his mother's home in Brockery, Christiana, Manchester. It is alleged that his mother, Tessi Stubbs, was chopped and the house burnt by her husband on June 9.
65-y-o arsonist turns himself in
Walderston, Manchester:
In stark contrast to the screaming Gleaner headline on Monday June 11 'Burning rage' the perpetrator of a ghastly attempted murder/arson, who fled the scene at Brockery in Manchester, is now quietly behind bars.
On charges of murder and arson is 65-year-old farmer Theopholus Stubbs of Brockery in Manchester, who on Saturday June 9 allegedly chopped his 65-year-old wife Tessi Stubbs in her head with a machete before setting their two-floor multimillion-dollar home on fire, with the wounded wife and her 81-year-old sister, Purlene Miller, inside.
Miller, who suffered second and third degree burns in the fire died approximately one month after the incident at the Percy Junor Hospital. Mrs. Stubbs was discharged while the 65-year-old alleged murderer evaded the police.
Mr. Stubbs surrendered to the police a few weeks ago, without the knowledge of members of the community which had questioned whether or not he was alive. He is booked to face the Christiana RM. Court for a preliminary hearing on Friday October 26.
- Byron McDaniel
Police blamed for mystery murder
Spanish Town, St. Catherine:
Several questions are now being asked as to why relatives of a man whose body was located in a shallow grave are accusing the police of murder.
The man, who was found with what appeared to be gunshot wounds over his body last Monday in the Jews Pen area of Bog Walk, is said to be the victim of a mystery that is yet to be solved.
However, his relatives and other persons went to the Bog Walk police station last Wednesday and accused the police of murder. The family argues that the police took away their loved one and shot him. They are also demanding an explanation as to where his body is.
When The Gleaner visited the police station last Wednesday a crowd had already disbursed and attempts to get an explanation from the police proved futile.
The police confirmed that persons related to the deceased had come to the station and accused them of murder and have said further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the man's death will be made.
- Rasbert Turner
JLP veterans to return to politics
ST. ELIZABETH:
Two veteran Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Members of Parliament are supposedly set to return to representational politics in St. Elizabeth in the upcoming local government elections, which is constitutionally due by year end.
The two are attorney-at-law Jeremy Palmer and farmer Derrick Sangster, who both served in the JLP administration of the 1980s as Members of Parliament (MPs) for South East and South West St. Elizabeth respectively.
Sources close to the party's constituency executive in South West St. Elizabeth told The Gleaner a decision had been reached with the two sitting councillors in the constituency to step aside and make way for the former MPs to contest the pending local government polls.
When contacted by The Gleaner for a comment, campaign director for the party in South West St. Elizabeth during the just-concluded general election, Oliver Nembhard, confirmed there is an ongoing process in the constituency to have some representatives replaced. He said that the divisions in question are the Mountainside and Pedro Plains, and former MPs Palmer and Sangster have expressed an interest in representing the divisions in the next parish council elections.
- Rayon Dyer
EoJ loses returning officer
ST. ELIZABETH:
The Electoral Office of Jamaica is now in search of a new returning officer for the constituency of South West St. Elizabeth.
The vacancy came as returning officer, Conrod Romans, tendered his resignation.
Speaking with The Gleaner Mr. Romans said that after 15 years in the position and participation in a number of elections he thought it was time to call it a day.
Mr. Romans said he has already sent his letter of resignation to the director of elections, Danville Walker.
He made sure to point out to those surprised at his decision that his resignation as returning officer had nothing to do with the outcome of the recent general elections.
In the general election on September 3, the Jamaica Labour Party's Dr. Christopher Tufton defeated the People's National Party's Rev. Stanley Redwood.
- Neville Paul
Sewage closes school
ST. MARY:
The St. Mary High School was officially closed on Thursday and its halls remained empty yesterday as well because of problems they have with their sewage system.
According to a teacher at the institution, this has been an ongoing problem, which manifests itself quite frequently, because of the negligence of the relevant authorities.
With rags and hands to nose, both students and teachers on Wednesday afternoon took matters into their own hands and protested, as the unbearable stench rose to intolerable limits.
Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary, Dr Maurice Guy, along with personnel from the Ministry of Education and a Health Inspector from the parish are scheduled to tour the premises.
- Lisia Lynch
