MEMBER of Parliament for Western Westmoreland, Dr Wykeham McNeill, has joined Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) in calling for answers about the death of Fredrick ‘Mickey’ Hill who was killed by the police in Negril last Thursday.

McNeill has written to the head of the recently established Independent Commission of Investigations, Terrence Williams, requesting a quick, full and through investigation into the controversial shooting.

“The incident took place in full view of several witnesses and the account of the witnesses differs significantly from what has been reported by the police,” McNeill said in a statement yesterday.

McNeill said he has also written to the police commissioner asking him to do all that is necessary to ensure that the witnesses and members of their families are adequately protected during the process of these investigations as concerns have been expressed for their safety.

And on Friday JFJ said Hill’s killing demands immediate action.

“According to numerous eyewitnesses Mr Hill was confronted by a group of seven or eight policeman, some wearing masks or with ‘kerchiefs’ tied over their faces, who came up in a police bus,” JFJ said. “They demanded that he tell them what was in a ‘scandal’ bag that he had.  In the process of showing them the contents of the bag — cornmeal and condensed milk — the police opened fire and Mr Hill was shot at least three times at point blank range. He died on the spot. Other persons in the vicinity were menaced with guns by the police and ran away.  Another load of policemen came and removed Mr Hill’s body in the back of a police jeep, while the original police party got back in the blue bus and drove away.”

JFJ said Hill’s killing has caused outrage in the Negril and Savanna La Mar communities.

“He was well known to locals and tourists alike as a decent, hardworking Jamaican who had worked in the tourist industry for over 20 years.  His death raises a number of questions which must be answered by the police high command, the Independent Commission of Investigation and the Minister of National Security as soon as possible,” JFJ said.

The official police report on the incident, which the Bureau of Special Investigations is probing, read that 47-year-old Hill was fatally shot by the police on Norman Manley Boulevard in Negril, Westmoreland last Thursday morning.

The police said a 9mm pistol and three 9mm cartridges were seized in the incident.