Errol Campbell

THE CONTROVERSIAL killing of a 44-year-old Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier in Seaview Gardens, St. Andrew, on Tuesday evening has left the community at odds with the police.

Dead is Errol Campbell, a Corporal, a 21-year veteran of the JDF.

Yesterday, scores of irate and placard-bearing citizens protested along Spanish Town Road, near the entrance leading into Seaview Gardens. They claimed the soldier was killed in cold blood by the police.

During the protest, police personnel were heckled by the demonstrators.

Following the events which led to his death, a curfew was imposed in the area yesterday morning and is to remain in affect until 8:00 a.m. this morning.

There are conflicting reports surrounding the death of the soldier. A report from the Police Information Centre (PIC) said Mr. Campbell and one other person were shot during a shoot-out between gunmen and the police.

The report further stated that the Seaview Gardens Police Station came under heavy gunfire from a group of gunmen. The fire was returned and the soldier was found suffering from gunshot wounds later.

Eye-witnesses who spoke with The Gleaner yesterday said during the shooting, Mr. Campbell was trying to save the life of a little boy, who was exposed to the danger of the shots being fired.

"He put the little boy against the wall and peeped out. When he saw that the police were firing at him, he shouted out three times that he was a JDF soldier. The last time he shouted out they shot him three times in his stomach," said an eye-witness.

According to his wife, Janet, the police in the area knew her husband very well.

"I shouted to the police, a mi husband onnuh shot, him a soldier. They fire several shots in my direction and I had to run. Even the car that took my husband to the hospital was shot up by the police," said Mrs. Campbell.

Residents say Campbell was their volley ball coach, an organiser of the community dancing group.