Brevett laid to rest

THE death of Okine Brevett, son of Skatalites bass player Lloyd Brevett, stands amongst the "most startling experiences" of former Prime Minister PJ Patterson.

"Hours before his death, he seemed well poised and his mannerism dignified him as a true gentleman. However, he was cut down in the prime of life by vicious criminals. Can there be no bond in our inner cities?" asked Patterson at yesterday's thanksgiving service for the young Brevett at the Andrews Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church on Hope Road in St Andrew.

Brevett, 32, was shot dead in his home community of Seaview Gardens on February 26, hours after collecting a Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) award on behalf of his father. The award was presented by Patterson himself.

Patterson, who once managed the Skatalites band, yesterday urged the congregation to unite to eradicate crime in order to restore due respect to life.

The former prime minister also urged musicians, DJs, journalists, and politicians to reaffirm their purposes and unite to rid the nation of such savage acts.

Anthony Hylton, chairman of Western St Andrew Constituency and minister of industry, investment and commerce, also hailed the deceased father of two as a model figure, who had the Seaview Gardens community in his best interests.

In a tribute to their son, which was in the programme, Lloyd and Ruth Brevett said that they never expected such a turn of events.

"We lost you as you were encouraged to take an award of my life's work as a Skatalites in your hands. Ever the son that held me, and represented me, with your strength as I faced with determination and will my life and destiny in this advance of time in this our world. Never did I expect that it would be I who would be asked to bear the sacrifice of you, my son, in a life that I have given so much."

The mood inside the church grew more sombre as the service came to an end. Okine's sister, Shanalee, along with his girlfriend Sasha Thomas and other family members, wailed as the pall-bearers carried the casket from the church to the hearse.

Musical tributes during the service were delivered by reggae singers Luciano and Althea Hewitt, while music consultant Maxine Stowe, wife of the late reggae singer Lincoln 'Sugar' Minott, spoke on the Skatalites' impact on Jamaican music.

The officiating ministers were Pastors C Tidene Brevett and Sheldon Schooler. Donations were made to the Okine Brevett Skatalites Fund. Interment followed at a family plot in Red Ground, Negril.

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Explosion Rocks Kingston

Residents of two neighbouring communities in Kingston Gardens have been left dumbstruck and wondering what hit them after an explosive device described as having an "earthquake effect" erupted in the community in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

The explosion, which occurred around 2:30 a.m. along Marlborough Road, was reportedly heard almost a mile away.

When The Gleaner arrived on the scene yesterday morning, a huge hole in the base of a concrete perimeter fence, which stood between the roadway and concrete building, spoke to the magnitude of the explosion.

Forensic experts believe the explosion occurred between the house and the perimeter fence, but they too were unable to say what type of device could have left four vehicles parked along the roadway in ruin.

Houses more than 30 feet away from where the explosion was believed to have taken place were also impacted by the blast.

Irma Senior, who lives in one of three houses in the yard where the explosion took place, was at a loss as to who could have carried out the act. The elderly woman is also amazed as to how she was the only person in the vicinity who did not hear the explosion.

"About minutes to three, a woman up the road come and call mi and ask if mi nuh hear what happen. When mi look, the glass window in my cousin house lick out. The toilet in the house and the tiles dem lift up," she said of the building closest to where the explosion took place.

There was no one in the house at the time of the incident.

"I have no idea why someone would want to do this, I tell you the God truth," she said.

Vehicles damaged

A woman who lived across the street from where the explosion occurred recalled her ordeal.

"When mi hear it and jump up out a mi sleep, mi think a the children dem turn over the entertainment centre," she said.

"After mi get up and realise seh a nuh that, mi wait a while then me peep out the window and realise say the vehicles dem mash up."

The left side of a 1991 Nissan Sunny motor vehicle was dented by the impact of the blast. Its windscreens were also blown out, while the bumper was left barely hanging. A Chevrolet vehicle was also damaged by the impact. The other vehicles, which like the Nissan and Chevrolet had been parked along the side of the road, were removed from the scene before The Gleaner arrived.

"All now mi a try figure out what happen. Maybe things would a worse if a never fi the vehicles dem weh did park near to my window," the woman said, pointing to her living room aluminium window which was dented by the impact.

"A outside job that," declared a young man from the nearby Nugent Lane community, who said he was awake at the time of the explosion.

"Me glass windows dem mash out and fly all over the place and same time mi chuck on the ground. When mi look, everything start drop off the wall. It did terrible," he said.

Detectives from the Area Four Police Station have since taken two men into custody for questioning.

Samples were also taken from the scene.

 

Okeene Brevett

Relatives say the 32-year-old son of a founding member of the pioneering Jamaican ska and reggae band The Skatalites was fatally shot about an hour after accepting a music award for his ill father.

Ruth Brevett says her son Okine was killed by a gunman at the entrance of his home in the rough Seaview Gardens area of Kingston.

He was shot about 15 minutes after showing his 80-year-old father, Lloyd Brevett, an award from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association for the father’s musical contributions. Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson handed over the award.

My head turned into a football!

A young woman who fancied a new look was temporarily blinded and hospitalised for three days following a severe reaction to hair dye she bought in the supermarket.

Carmen Rowe’s face swelled up ‘like a football’ after using the Clairol ‘Nice n’ Easy’ natural black colour that she bought at her local Asda. She was admitted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea the following day after the swelling left her unable to see.

Yet the 25-year-old said she carried out a skin test 48 hours before using the dye without a problem and had been colouring her hair since she was 13-years-old.

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Whitney Houston Casket Photo Released

Whitney Houston Casket Photo Released

Mom: Philly cop killed my son

Philly Cops Shoot Off-Duty Bus Driver

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police shot and killed a man who tried to intervene in a domestic disturbance involving his sister
.

Crawley allegedly drove to the scene of a domestic dispute with a gun in his waistband, and he failed to comply with an officer's order to put his hands on the car after getting out of his vehicle.

Police said Crawley drew his weapon and an officer shot him in the chest. Crawley died at a hospital.

No officers were injured.

Internal affairs and homicide detectives are investigating the shooting. The name of the officer who fired the fatal shot was not immediately released. 

Bobby Brown at Whitney Houston funeral but does not stay

Whitney Houston's ex-husband, singer Bobby Brown, was at the funeral. But no, he didn't stay.

Brown arrived as the service began. He walked to the casket, touched it and walked to the back of the New Jersey church Saturday, the AP is reporting.

Security guards were saying Brown would be seated but the nine-person entourage that accompanied him were led to seats elsewhere. Instead, Brown left and appeared upset.

The Newark Star-Ledger is quoting a person familiar with the situation in reporting that Brown wanted his entourage to sit with him in the family section.

Speculation on whether Brown would be at the funeral has been bubbling all week, with some reports claiming the family did not want him there. A publicist later said he had been invited. Brown is scheduled to perform tonight at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn.

"They were asked to leave," the person said, referring to the entourage. Brown was not asked to leave, but "he left with the other people," according to the person, who was not at liberty to discuss the situation publicly.

Houston died Feb. 11. A cause of death hasn't been determined.

Houston and Brown were married 15 years and have one daughter, Bobbi Kristina. In 2003, police responding to a domestic violence call about Brown found Houston with a cut lip and bruised cheek. Their tumultuous relationship ended with a 2007 divorce.

Whitney Houston’s Funeral Is Being Streamed Online Live Right Now

As friends and family gather today to celebrate and remember the life of Whitney Houston, who will be laid to rest in New Jersey, fans can also catch the service as it will be streamed online. Whitney Houston’s publicist, Kristen Foster, announced earlier in the week that The Associated Press will be the only video camera allowed inside at Saturday’s funeral in Newark. The Associated Press will stream the service on http://livestream.com/aplive.

Woman Tries To Kill Her Boyfriend BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET HER A VALENTINES DAY GIFT!!!

Kierra Reed, 22, got into a verbal altercation with partner Henry Brown just before midnight on the evening of February 14 when she learned he did not have a Valentine’s present for her.

Police allege she pushed and scratched Mr Brown until he locked himself inside a bedroom in her apartment.Reed reportedly took a knife to the door, trying to slash her way in as she yelled that she would cut Mr Brown and kill him.Police were then called to the scene and Reed was arrested and charged with aggravated menacing.

She was released on bail yesterday.

Kartel remanded again

Embattled entertainer dancehall Vybz Kartel was again remanded when he appeared in the Home Circuit Court in relation to the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. 

Kartel and five other men are charged in connection with the killing. 

The other five men also appeared in court this morning. 

They are fellow deejay, Shawn Campbell, more popularly known as Shawn Storm, Kiro Jones, Shane Williams, Andre St. John and fashion designer Calvin Haye. 

All except Calvin Haye were also remanded this morning. 

Haye, who is on bail was granted an extension. 

He along with Kartel and the other accomplices are to return to court on March 16. 

High Court judge Marva McDonald Bishop this morning instructed the Crown to write to the Forensic Lab, to have the reports on the case available by that time. 

The judge says the reports will be needed because a bail application is expected to be made at that time. 

Clive Williams was reportedly beaten and stabbed in Havendale, St. Andrew, on August 16, but the police have not located his body. 

The police told the court that they have video and audio recordings linking Vybz Kartel, and his co-defendants to the killing. 

The police say they also have eye witness statements connecting the men to the murder. 


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Bus Driver Jailed for using his Bus to ram a Cyclist off the Road

Jailed: Gavin Hill was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the attack

A bus driver who used his vehicle 'like a weapon' to ram a cyclist off the road has been jailed for 17 months.

Reckless driver Gavin Hill, 29, swerved into cyclist Phillip Mead after getting into an argument at a roundabout in Bristol.

Mr Mead was flung over his handlebars and catapulted 10ft across the road. He suffered a broken leg and fractured wrist.

As he lay on the ground in agony, the driver simply straightened up the single decker bus and continued on the journey.

Captured on CCTV, bus driver Gavin Hill swerves to the right of the cyclist Phillip Mead as if to overtake him in Bristol city centre

Impact: The bus driver cuts back in sharply and collides with the cyclist who is seen in this picture going flying over the handlebars

Hill pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 17 months at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Mark Horton said his action 'was not an accident' and added: 'You used the bus as a weapon to bully and intimidate Mr Mead.'

The court heard how Hill got into a heated exchange with Mr Mead at the St James Barton roundabout in central Bristol at 8.30am on April 5 last year.

Mr Mead is said to have tugged at one of the bus's windscreen wipers before they both moved away from a set of traffic lights.Mr Mead tumbles onto the ground in a heap as the bus towers menacingly over him. He suffered a broken leg and fractured wrist in the road rage ramming

Mr Mead lies on the ground in pain after the attack but as can be seen from the CCTV the bus driver straightens up the vehicle and continues towards the traffic lights

In a CCTV clip shown to the court, the cyclist is shown riding in front of the Bugler Coaches vehicle before the bus pulls out to overtake him.

But the bus then suddenly swerves to the left - knocking into Mr Mead and sending him sprawling across the road.

Mr Mead, a father of two, spent two weeks in hospital and had operations to repair his left knee and wrist following the incident.

He spent six weeks in plaster and was not allowed to cycle for four months but is now back on his bike and commuting to work.

The computer programmer, who lives in of St Anne's, Bristol, with wife Samantha, said: 'I think he meant to brush against me and give me a fright.

'I don't think he set out to break my bones, or at least I like to think not. I remember losing my balance and rolling over a couple of times.

'I tried to stand up and could see that my bike was under the bus between the front and back wheels.

'It doesn't matter to me what sentence he gets, it won't change what has already happened. For me what is important is that he has acknowledged what he did.'

Hill, who had been a bus driver for ten years, described the incident as a 'moment of madness'.

He was told he would serve half his sentence before being considered for release on licence, but he was sacked by Bugler Coaches following the incident.

Gerald Creed, managing director of Bugler Coaches, said: 'We were deeply shocked when we heard of this incident and once we had established what had happened Mr Hill was immediately dismissed as we did not want him driving one of our buses ever again.'

Watch the Video


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Killed by bonding glue

Atasha Graham died from a massive allergic reaction that could have been caused by the glue in her hair extensions, a pathologist said yesterday.

Atasha Graham, 34, who had used hair extensions for 14 years, collapsed after clubbing until the early hours.

Home Office pathologist Michael Heath told the inquest into her death that the latex glue used to apply her extensions – or the solvent for removing old ones – may have been to blame.

He added: ‘I’ve seen cases where people using solvent to apply extensions has actually caused anaphylactic shock. 

‘There are about ten to 20 deaths a year in this country, many more in America. I have seen four in the last three months.’

Dr Heath told the hearing at Southwark Coroner’s Court in London: ‘The hair extensions in Atasha’s hair were of a latex type. This may or may not be related [to her death]. If it is the hair extension, normally a reaction would occur within half an hour of applying them.’

But he added that traces of glue or solvent could have seeped into her bloodstream hours later after she started perspiring on the dancefloor. 

He ruled out reactions to food and alcohol and said there were no drugs in her system.

On May 15 last year, Jamaican-born Miss Graham had been dancing at a club where her boyfriend, Fenton Johnson, was the DJ.

Mr Johnson said Miss Graham, one of nine children, was fine until she stepped through the doorway of their home in Lee, south-east London, at 6.30am, then suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. 

He called an ambulance and tried to resuscitate her as 999 operators gave him first aid instructions over the phone.  But she never properly regained consciousness and died later in hospital.

A post-mortem failed to find any abnormalities with her organs or substances which could have caused her death.

Whitney Houston's Funeral To Be Streamed Online

Fans worldwide who want to bid Whitney Houston farewell will be able to watch her private funeral on the Internet. 


http://www.livestream.com/aplive

Her publicist, Kristen Foster, announced that The Associated Press will be allowed a camera at the Saturday ceremony in Newark, N.J. The AP will stream the service on http://livestream.com/aplive . The event also will be available to broadcasters via satellite. 

Houston died in her hotel room in Beverly Hills, on Saturday at the age of 48. Her body was flown back to her native New Jersey on Monday. Many fans were disappointed when they learned that the funeral was private and no public memorial has yet been planned. 

Houston was born in Newark. The service will be at New Hope Baptist Church, where she sang as a child. 

Whitney Houston's Hilton hotel room has already been occupied again - News, Entertainment - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Whitney Houston's hotel room, where she died on Saturday, is already booked out again.

The 48-year-old singer passed away in room 434 of the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles after being found unresponsive in the bathtub.

TMZ reports that the luxury hotel has a new occupant staying in the now-famous room just three days later.

The site spoke to a hotel reservations agent who told them that despite the shocking events over the weekend, now that the police investigation on the room is over, it is officially back in rotation.

They said that someone is staying in the room currently and they have been inundated with calls from people who also want to stay in the room.

But the clerk said that the fourth floor room is booked out for the "foreseeable future" although would not elaborate on when the next available date would be.

Rooms at the famous hotel start at $375 a night.

Whitney's funeral will take place in her home town of New Jersey on Saturday and will be a private memorial.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/whitney-houstons-hilton-hotel-room-already-reoccupied-16117799.html#ixzz1mRHlGTcl

No signs of foul play in Houston’s death

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston's life of glorious song and unnerving self-destruction apparently ended in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Grammy weekend, but it could be weeks before investigators know exactly why she died.

Coroner's officials say they will not release any information on an autopsy performed Sunday at the request of police detectives investigating the singer's death. Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter declined to say anything more about the room's condition or any evidence investigators recovered.

There were no indications of foul play and no obvious signs of trauma on Houston's body, but officials were not ruling out any causes of death until they have toxicology results, which likely will take weeks to obtain. Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said that his agency may release more details Monday about Houston's death, but it will depend on whether detectives feel comfortable releasing any information.

Security holds on autopsy results are used in some high-profile Los Angeles cases, with Michael Jackson's results being withheld for weeks while detectives pieced together the circumstances of his death in 2009. Toxicology results are frequently necessary before the coroner will release an official cause of death.

A member of Houston's entourage found the 48-year-old singer unresponsive in her hotel room on Saturday, just hours before she was supposed to appear at a pre-Grammy gala.

The Grammys on Sunday were in part a memorial to Houston, a six-time winner. LL Cool J introduced a clip near the start of the show of a glowing Houston singing her signature ballad, a cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."

Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Wonder were among performers who praised Houston, and Jennifer Hudson capped the tributes with an emotional version of "I Will Always Love You" that ended with a personal note: "Whitney, we love you." Houston's most famous song was the most downloaded single for much of Sunday on iTunes.

Meanwhile, Houston's daughter was transported by ambulance to a Los Angeles hospital Sunday morning and later released. Bobbi Kristina Brown, 18, who is Houston's daughter from her marriage to singer Bobby Brown, had accompanied her mother to several pre-Grammy Awards events last week.

"At this time, we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter, Bobbi Kristina," Bobby Brown wrote in a statement. "I appreciate all of the condolences that have been directed towards my family and I at this most difficult time."

A sensation from her very first album, Houston was one of the world's best-selling artists from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. She awed millions with soaring but disciplined vocals rooted in gospel and polished for the masses, a bridge between the earthy passion of her godmother, Aretha Franklin, and the bouncy pop of her cousin, Dionne Warwick.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she became a rare black actress with box office appeal, starring in such hits as "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."

Bishop T.D. Jakes, a Texas minister and producer on Houston's final film project, a re-make of the 1970s release "Sparkle," said he saw no signs Houston was having any substance issues. He said Houston was a complete professional and moved the cast and crew to tears two months ago when she sang the gospel hymn "Her Eyes on the Sparrow" for a scene.

"There was no evidence in working with her on 'Sparkle' that there was any struggle in her life," Jakes said Sunday. "She just left a deep impression on everybody."

No signs of foul play in Houston's death.


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