More on the vicious beating of an alleged gay student by two security guards at Jamaica's University of Technology (UTech). The two former guards pleaded not guilty to assault charges yesterday, reports the Jamaica Gleaner.
Orville Rennie and Samuel Thomas appeared before Resident Magistrate Grace Henry McKenzie today in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court. The magistrate today extended their bail and ordered that they return to court on February 15.
Rennie and Thomas were arrested on November 3 after they were seen on video beating the male student, who ran into the guard room to seek refuge from a mob.
The actual incident happened on November 1. "The student ended up in the guard room after fleeing an angry mob," reported the Gleaner on November 3. "The student [allegedly] was found in a compromising position with another male student."
The guards involved in the assault were quickly fired by Marksman Limited, the security contractor. The university has also promised to "punish" all students who were found to be involved in the mob attack, reports Caribbean 360.
The case has eerie similarities to the infamous February 2007 mob beating of three gay men in Kingston. The gay Jamaican men were attacked by an angry, homophobic mob in downtown Kingston ... only to be "rescued" by several police officers who beat them and hurled insults.
Jamiaca and UTech faced international condemnation after this latest incident was captured on videotape and uploaded to YouTube. Watch the videos AFTER THE JUMP ...
This is most disturbing. A co-worker told me about this story and I just couldn't believe how utterly outrageous this sounded...until I saw the footage. Backtracking perhaps the accused young victim wouldn't have been trolling the campus bathrooms (allegedly,) if he had more opportunities in a safe space to meet other like-minded individuals. That mob was itchin' for a killing.
Posted by: brothaman | 23 November 2012 at 14:05
"To protect and serve" is not part of their motto.
Posted by: gb | 23 November 2012 at 19:14
The lyrics of the Jamaica national anthem states: "Blessed Father [...] teach us respect for ALL..." Apparently the prayer hasn't been answered yet!!! Or it has been answer but they didn't like the answer...
Posted by: Mario | 25 November 2012 at 00:32
I had a freiend who went to Jamaica on holiday. I was shocked and saddened that he could claim to have fun while less fortunate Jamaicans have to live amongst these animals who quite frankly should be wiped off the face of the earth
Posted by: Me | 25 November 2012 at 07:08
This is one more reason I will not ever go to this extremely homophobic country and never spend one penny there. I feel so sorry for our gay brothers who live in this prison.
Posted by: Jerry | 25 November 2012 at 08:35
are you fucking serious? the security guards are holding the kid down and punching him?
This is a fucking outrage! The security guard firm and the school should be FINED!!!
Posted by: RogerJ | 25 November 2012 at 10:28
This is most disturbing. A co-worker told me about this story and I just couldn't believe how utterly outrageous this sounded.
Posted by: find out more | 04 December 2012 at 01:23