The death of Clement James, also known as Johnson, could well be considered a hate crime.
Dominica News Online met with relatives of the deceased yesterday afternoon in an effort to better understand the circumstances surrounding his death.
Johnson’s sister-in-law Marcella James provided an account of the events. She said her brother-in-law had reportedly left the village to conduct business in the town when he was confronted by his attacker, whom she named but cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.
According to the woman’s account, the attacker allegedly approached the victim and threatened that all “battie boi must dead”. The approach was supposedly in response to a misconceived “look” handed down to the attacker from his eventual victim.
James’s sister, Jane James, said some people in the community were of the opinion that her brother was gay. She questioned, however, whether this was enough to warrant his death. Johnson had no wife or children. He was in his mid 50s.
The altercation occurred on the Indian River Bridge at about 3:40pm. At the time of the alleged “look” the two individuals were on opposite sides of the bridge. Relatives said based on eyewitness accounts, the attacker allegedly made his way across, armed with a solid piece of wood and a knife tucked in his waist. He is known for carrying these weapons around, Johnson’s relatives say.
Following a brief verbal exchange, the attacker reportedly struck Johnson with the wood. Johnson responded by grabbing hold of the wood to avoid any serious bodily injuries.
The dead man’s brother, ‘Jah Prince’ James told Dominica News Online that the attacker smiled when he held the wood and took out the knife and start stabbing Johnson under his arm. He said that his brother then turned his attention from the wood to the knife and attempted to defend himself by blocking additional stabs from getting to his body. These defensive wounds were visible on his forearm, Jah Prince states.
Unable to maintain his defenses in light of massive blood loss, Johnson soon fell to the ground and was pinned by his attacker who dealt more stabs and eventually fled the scene leaving him almost motionless on the paved sidewalk.
Passersby reportedly spent more time looking at the man take his last breaths than they did soliciting help. By the time an ambulance was on the scene the victim’s blood was said to be almost dried on the roadside. The relatives say it
appeared that the fatal wound was dealt to the arm as when emergency personnel lifted the arm, blood started to shoot from it.
Johnson died in the same evening at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Roseau after initial treatment at the Portsmouth hospital.
Police spokesman Claude Weekes said yesterday morning that someone was assisting with the investigations of the murder. He did not say whether that person was the suspect but declared that there had been no arrests.
The James family told Dominica News Online that the alleged attacker had been at the police station since early Tuesday morning. They were unaware whether he had been charged.
Meanwhile, reports in the community suggest that the alleged attacker is openly opposed to homosexuality. It is alleged that he sings and preaches aloud in the streets about the killing gay people.
The late Clement ‘Johnson’ James was a former employee of Ross University who lately took up landscaping.
Yesterday when DNO met his father, siblings, in-laws and other family members, they were at his home planning his funeral.
Personally, I do not believe Clement James was murdered because he was a homosexual if indeed he was a homosexual.
The man who killed him is mentally ill and filled with hate which is in itself a form of mental illness. Seeing a man who is said by some is a homosexual triggered his hate and sent him into a murderous rage. This man may be struggling with his own sexual issues.
In the 1970s a Roman Catholic Prime Minister in Canada abolished the death penalty even for murder. He also decriminalized homosexuality which laid the groundwork for legalizing same sex marriages. When he died he was given a big lavish Catholic funeral which pretty much shows that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ can buy anything in the Catholic Church.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
This terrible crime took place years ago. I found the story today on DNO.
This report has stirred me deeply and I feel moved to comment.
As a minister of the gospel I have strong feelings about the gay issue and I write frequently on the subject.
Homosexuality is a sin. But we are all sinners including myself. The gospel tells us that all who repent and believe in Christ will be washed clean by His precious blood. Please read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
No Evangelical Christian hates homosexuals. We do not condone violence against them. It is our belief that we should be courteous and kind to homosexuals, and to all people even if we disagree with their lifestyle.
When you hear of ”gay bashing” or violence against homosexuals it may have been done by a religious person. But it was not a born again Christian. Please do not associate it with us.
The person who committed this crime is likely suffering from a mental illness.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…
hmnn yesssaaa..all battie boi must die..hmnn what happen to dem man na gosh man! no reason to kill someone because of their sexuality
I have not been commenting on DNO for a while as i no longer live in Dominica, but something just tell me to visit the site and look what am commenting on. i know Mr.James very well after working very close with him,he was a very kind and honest person and he did not not had to die like like that come on the man is a human being and should be respected even if the man is gay or not,is that not the man business we Dominicans are to small minded the same ones that shouting FIRE BURN BATTY MAN those are the same ones that when they travel to other countries are in bed with batty men to get clothes,money,blackberries,shoes and the list go on,i hope that the full extent of the law will not be speared as the family off another mourns.may the family find peace with god my eyes and ears are open.
@gay and proud: “My wicked ways, me hypocrite”, is that the best you could come up with? And here I thought I was reasoning with a man of reasoning and you go and pull out bible verses and spit at me. I thought I made it explicitly clear that I had no issues with people’s sexuality, I guessed you missed that part huh.
You are the one talking about Dominicans being cursed, and should perish, and I’m simply telling you that we’re no more curse than you or your family. Man I’ve read some of your posts on similar topics in the past and thought that you sounded like a person with some clear and logical thinking, well after your last post, I’ve concluded that you’re just like these conservative fundamentalists who think that all gay people should perish, the only difference with you is that you think that everybody else should perish except your family of course, cause when you’re faced with logical reasoning, you just get into a rage and start idiotic name calling.
This message is for all the Hypocrite Dominicans Gay haters , they themselves are adulterers, child molesters fornicators, thieves greedy dogs adn much more they make children and do not support them all thesw things are much worse than being gay. No one talks against those deplorable deeds that they the heterosexuals do but they hates gays and Gays do not bother them. I’m not gay but leave the gays alone they are much better people than heterosexual people. Enough of this hypocricy. “Dominichen zore toe anshass. Sacre poubel que zore yae
@Mentally Disturbed: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Mathew 7:5
Cast not your curse on me. Your destiny is written…. Me and my family are too blessed to be stressed. Certainly not over you. I am in his image an likeness and he has and will take care of his child. This has been proven time and time again. Stay in your mess , nash your teeth and beat your chest but that will not change your destiny unless you change your wicked ways !
@gaynproud: You’re preaching to the choir mate, I’ve come to an understanding many years ago that you did not choose to be gay anymore than I chose to be straight. My observation is that you’ve turned into one of the people you despised, your seething anger towards Dominicans have you wishing the illest of ills upon us, just as long as your family gets out let the good perish with the bad.
You’ve left DA, turned back and looked at us with scorn (I do understand where your anger is rooted from), however, I’m sure that in the civilized city or country where you live, that the majority of that society has that same intolerance towards homosexuality and the occasional murder based on someone’s perceived sexuality (even in the mecca San Franscisco).
Be careful about turning ya back on ya people bruh, you might just find ya self having to run back to them with or without limbs.
Oh and that sh*t about us being cursed, is simply that, bull%^&t, we’re no more cursed than you or ya family mate.
@Just giving my opinion
It’s on a rise
as you are well aware Dominicans LOVE to “pound beff” and as a result before any newscaster can brake the story dominicans abroad already drink that soup
I wouldn’t say there is an increase in Murder itself however I would say there is a significant increase in the level of sophistication and violence involved in these murders
QUESTION:
Are more crimes really being committed in Dominica? Or are we becoming more aware of those crimes because of media like DON? I am not sure that the murder rate has sky rocekted. I just think that these crimes are getting more publicity and are more accessible to the wider Dominican community.
And i ask that becuase again i see a Political trend in some of the comments – askin gfor the PM to do something. The PM doesn’t make the laws. As far as i know ( and i may be wrong) .. the legislature passes the laws… so you as a people need to go to your ministers and bring your ideas forward so that they can propose bills which can then be voted upon and enacted.
One man does not make the law of the island. So please DOMINICANS, when you guys trying to make issues political, i suggest you go to your parl rep and ask them to put motions forward.
Stop sitting behind the pcs and tell, asking…whatever it is that you are doing – the PM to do this and do that.
One man only has so much power….. remember DOminica is a democratic state – a government of the ppl, by the ppl … so DOMINICANS… if you want chage… you go out and make those changes
God says to lov ethy neighbour as thyself.
Homosexuals are our neighbours. We can not believe in something…not respect something, but we should tolerate it to the point that nothing can excuse killing someone.
Let’s not be the prosecutioner, judge and jury. Let GOD be that decision maker who defines and judges the homosexuals.
Let’s pray for them, live with them and accept them bearing in mind that we are all created equal, no man is better than the other, no one is more superior, and that above all – we should LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF
that was cruel
@Mentally Disturbed: Mentally Disturbed, I am not asking for you tolerance. I am asking for tolerance for all. Very early in my life I knew the Dominican environment was not for me. I may have been born there but it was a mistake clearly! I would be willing to offer a body part not to have to live there among that level of ignorance. Since I was a kid the mentality has been the same, many years later I see the same thing manifesting itself in the recent killing and it is resonated in the post. That starts,” I do not condone homosexuality”. Why do you need to justify what you condone and even if you do or do not? Seriously, who needs it or who care? Certainly not me. My issue is do not post sympathy comments when it is statements like the above that clearly shows the ignorance, lack of education and stupid comments that fuelled trash like the one in police custody to take the man’s life. Over what may likely be rumours? When the psyche of a society is soo poisoned there is no hope for it. My statements come due to the fact that I have given up totally on Dominica being a progressive society. It is hear say and rumour country and people have an will spend the rest of their lives making decisions on just that. It is sad but a society that remains stagnant in ignorance is destined to perish. I have warned my family. Get out of that country. It is a good country by the people are cursed. Their days are numbered . the recent activities are just the tip of what is to come less Dominicans change. Learn tolerance, mind your own business and focus of developing you and your country. Not about someone sexual orientation who may be contributing to the country in a more significant way than you are.
@gaynproud: Man I was feeling you until you started spewing pure nonsense about DA remaining backward. Everything you wrote after that is just pure nonsense.
Let me see if I understand you, you assume Dominica is a deprived state and going to stay that way because of the hate crime or Dominicans attitude towards homosexuality. Well I’m going to assume that in the thriving state/country you live, there is no hate crime and all the people, accept homosexuality without issues, (stop bashing DA when ya’ll get a chance to leave the country, though it’s not right this sh*t happens where ya’ll live too).
It even gets worse with you mate, you want your family to get out and the rest of us to all perish under a volcano, the good and the bad you don’t care as long as your family is not there. Ironically, your anger towards a society that don’t accept you has turned you worse than the very members of that society. You my brother, have turned into a cold insensitive intolerant human, not fitting for someone asking for tolerance.
Yes you’re proud of being gay, but you sound like you’re troubled inside.
@leroy possie: REST IN PEACE MR JAMES. YOU HAVE LAID DOWN YOUR BURDEN HERE ON EARTH,YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL WELCOME YOU TO PARADISE. THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE JUDGE.
O.M.G ho could someone be so bad mind and cruel to do something like that.i mean that was nt the mans job to take the man life.it is true that i do not support the gay thing but this killing was uncalled for.
Hang who ??? plzzzzz do you all think that can stop crimes , not at all.” There are other countries that turn to that , and still there place is still in shambles. It starts first with us, enough is enough one for all , and all for one.” Clean out your closets , if someone needs help we all help them , that is the only way the place will come to peace and harmony. Stop watching each other with a bad eye, jail these son of some *!^#%@$ in cells where the waves of the sea can rise and beat them ! Feed them only cheese and water to hell with crackers even if it’s your own family they would think twice about the torture. As for those that needs rehab, send them there so they can be evaluated and treated. No one should judge no man except GOD . Every where in this world you may go you will find Homoes whether you like it or not . So We the people who want to save our country need to stop procrastinating with these wanna be thugs and grow up be leaders. Do what is nessasary to build a place we can call heaven .” Make our country the #1 destination that people want to come and visit or stay.<< Everyone in this world is looking for a cool spot to make their home . Even somewhere they can get away from it all . We have everything natural , nothings artificial about us , but only us can make that change.
DOMINICA IS SOON BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST LAWLESSNESS PLACE IN THE WORLD. TO ME , IT LOOKS LIKE IF A PERSON WANT’S TO KILL ANOTHER OR COMMITS A SERIOUS CRIME ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TO COME TO DOMINICA. THE ONLY OTHER PLACE IS CHICAGO WHERE GANG MEMBERS KILL EACH OTHER JUST FOR THE JOY OF KILLING. IN ORDER TO STOP THIS MADNESS IN DOMINICA, THEY FIRST MUST KICK ALL OF THE CORRUPT MARGISTRATES FROM OFFICE AND REPLACE THEM WITH THOSE WHO HAS THE GUTS AND SAME PRINCIPLE AS MARGISTATE DOUGLAS HAS. FOR WHEN HE TAKES THE CRIMINALS OFF THE STREETS AND PUTS THEM BEHIND BARS WHERE THEY BELONG WITH NO BAIL SET, A CORRUPTED MARGISTRATE COMES AND OVERTURNS HIS DECISION SIMPLY BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL IS RELATED TO A FRIEND OF THEIRS.
THE LAW OF JUSTICE IS, IF YOU COMMIT THE CRIME YOU MUST DO THE TIME. WAKE UP DOMINICA.. THE REST OF THE WORLD IS WATCHING YOU ALL..
VERY BAD FOR BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
Before leaving Dominica today, I read DNO. I was horrified to learn of this hate crime. To be honest, I cried silently for the gentleman who was murdered. My heart bleeds for all other gay men who are forced to live their life in fear. I pray that God will deliver you from the hell that you must be living in Dominica.
I also pray that the entire Dominica population will learn the importance of tolerance from this tragedy.
May his soul rest in peace and may his family find comfort in the strength and courage that comes from God.
Let us all pray for peace in this world.
My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of JOHNSON. I knew Johnson very well. Very quiet. A man of God .
The man never profess to be a gay and because not having a wife or kids ,, just brand him as a gay.
Now the police better find and get this killer .. or he will be found !!!
@Broken: i agree with broken
@child: the police station is only 2-3 minutes if one runs , from the bridge, so why wasnt the police called in earlier
People seem to have no regard for the life of others. What a disheartening week this has been in DA. One minute you going about your business, the next minute you bleeding to death from knife wounds inflicted by a sicko. Why aren’t our leaders talking about the rising rate crime in our country? Minister of National Security what are you doing? I do not feel like our nation is secure. National security is not only about securing the country from foreign enemies.
i must congratulate the prime minister and his cabinet for taking education, health, travelling, and housing to name a few, to the next level. my question is ‘when will they take law and order to the next level too?’
plz mr prime minister too many people are dying at the hands of others. do something now before it is too late.
Cold blooded useless killing of yet another brother..Anyone with a heart,a conscience,a soul,will be deeply moved by reading this publication..In a sense,the justice system has to be blamed,because i have said already to many murderers are going free,so those who are stupid and cruel enough are feeing on an unjust court system…THIS MAN DESERVES THE MAXIMUM PENALTY..
Up to now i cant get this image out of my head. i cant believe that someone could just stay just like that and take another man’s life for no apparent reason claiming that all batty man must die. who are u to judge suppose someone decided that they taking ur life because u smoking marijuana will they be justified? i am really hoping that capital punishment is re instated like seriously. a thief getting more time in jail than a murderer now. that is so unfair something needs to be done
I’m baffled..Probably I’m naive. But please help me understand. Is there a emergency # (like 911) in Dominica? Is there no police patrol in the country’s second town? I’m just amazed that this crime happened in broad daylight and the suspect was not apprehended within the hour of committing the crime. I mean if we are going to agressively and effectively fight crime, they are some fundamentals that needs to be put in place.
This is such a sad story..Can’t believe this is happening in Dominica…Honestly i believe that the man should be hung.!!!!!!!
As much as I am against gays I don’t believe it’s anyone’s place to take a life. The man did not deserve this. I hope they find his killer and bring him to justice.
sad news but………..sorry dominica lack any kind of leadership across the board
seek and he shall find…dominicans need to check their top brass management…
could be lack of monies…no work…
@Law & order:
Citizens
Commonwealth of Dominica
1st September 2010
The Prime Minister
Commonwealth of Dominica
Dear Sir,
We the citizens of Dominica are very disturbed by the number of violent crimes which has plagued
our beautiful country in recent times.
We ask sir that you bring back hanging of murders into the constitution so that the victims and their families can get closure to crimes committed against them.
We voted you into power and if this act is not brought before parliament as soon as possible all the good that you have done will soon ne forgotten and the good Lord will no longer favour you as a leader.
Too many parents are crying, too many children are hurting, too many wives are hurting, and the truth is Dominicans no longer feel safe in Dominica.
Do something about the escalating crime rate or resign as Prime Minister of Dominica.
Yours Respectfully,
Signed
…………………
……………….
i no him from little boy in the he was a very very quite man makin his bread to sell. then he went away and so i seein you again man lord have mercy. i never no you homo; Y
Short trial. Hang him now.
Atleast, I starting to hear more people echoing the sentiment to bring back the hanging. It is high time man.
Anyways I am not in the gay business, I doh believe it is a right lifestyle, but there is NO way I can condone violence against them man.
Just keep away from them man lifestyle, judgement comes to us all.
This month seems to be a record breaking month in Dominica…this is another first!
How much more, before the authorities do something?
I watchin’ still…..
Now listen folks, persons keep saying why didn’t anybody help the guy during the stabbing. How many of you would confront a man with a knife in his hand for fear that he would turn on you, and this nut case would definitely turn on anybody. My condolences to the family of Clement James
@Mentally Disturbed:
If he is helping then he would have confessed. Thats help! How can he be possibly WORKING with the police. “Suspects” which he is yet to be labeled as, don’t get to work with the Police. They cooperate with the investigation! Not lets play talking games until my 72 hrs runs out. What happens if he never admits. I could put my life on the line and swear that there were witnesses. They all know who this character is. He has been a menace to society and he was a ticking time bomb. Clearly the justice system needs to be revised because while you are playing blurry lines of due process for the accused the victim of this senseless crime also needs his due process for Justice. He deserves it his family deserves it! I don’t expect him to be tried and punished in a day but the least that the officers can do is make a move and formally charge the Vile coward who perpetrated the act!
This man should get nothing less than capital punishment. He should be hung publicly! An example has to be made of bastards like this with no regard for humanity. NO BAIL! HANGING IS NECESSARY!
Mr. Prime Minister, The time for implementing the law i’ve been waiting for is here! as of this point i do not know who the murderer is, but be it my brother or sister, now is not the time for midnight groovers “milk and honey” now is the to bring back capital punishment! not tomorow, Mr. Prime Minister, today! now! pronto! Lets start with this one, lets make an example out of this one, u wanna start cleaning up the island? Now is the time.
@god is watching us: that is the best thing you find to say? that man was so damn quiet. Stupes man. why don’t u try blaming the murderer? He always walked with a weapon that is why people were afraid to help; they would have probably gotten their’s too.
Stupes
for those of us who know dominica ,imagine seeing somebody killing somebody on the side walk and none of us calling for help and instead we just stand there and see the man die.that story is so sad .may his soul rest in peace and may his family find comfort in god.
Well well well…I believe prayers are all we need.Those who have no faults of their own.. cast the first stone.That fellow is not the only gay man in Dominica and by extension the world.I do not know the reason why this man took a life.However if he had thought deeply of this he wouldn’t have done it because they are going to turn him into one up Stalky..sorry BUD!
My heart goes out to the family and friends of the deceased. This is real unbelievable!! The guy he says he against homos. Who say the man was a homo! Well he will get some good homoing in prison unitl he likes it. He will have plenty to say then. And why do the police always say alleged and the person is ässiting” them. That aint make any sense..Assisting. A murderer assisting. Hmph! Anyways fella ull get some good bogga in jail! DON’T DROP THE SOAP!
they need to hang the bastard! Totally senseless killing!
this guy has been violent from school days. his last day at pss he was escorted by the police cause he was trying to kill . he tried to kill his mother a few months ago on the glanvillia hi road. he sent a stone through the wind screen of bevanse bus almost killing him .he has a record for violence and was only placed on probation by the court. i feel sorry for johnson . the government need to hang mr,
you know what i find with our law here they stupid and … . as for them police chief their favourite word is alleged . they see the thing happened you know but they sayin is alleged. they only run come when you ssay 5 grams of marijuana and that one you will not stop it was dere from creation an dis dat they dont understand . somebody tell me would you spend time destroying a mariuana tree or saving a poor mans soul. sometimes when you see a lil fight especially when is young people and ou call the charge office they ask you where are the parents of the children . this is no answer. you know what i think the law should do instead of placing the dead person face on news paper n all about put the criminal face next to theirs man . nonsense that
. and they always want to come n say you take the law inhand , what … law in hand .
whatever this man lifestyle may have been gives no one the right to take away his life. this man needs to be jailed for life he is obviously mad and a nuisance
who knows, maybe this guy was molested by a gay individual. he sings about killing gay people???????????. hmmmmmmmmmmm, however tht does not give him the right to take away a life.
NOW I DAMN WELL VEX. U MEAN D MAN HAD NO PROBLEM WITH YOU AND YOU KIILING THE MAN. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN TO DAT BASTRD. I HOPE PRISON HAVE GOOD BOGGAR MEN TO GOGGAR HIS A**. AA. WELL IMPOSSIBLE. I TAKING DAT REALLY REALLY HARD.OWN IN TEARS. JUST SO AND WEN PPL WALKING THE STREETS HALF MAD PPL SAYING ALAS FOR THEM.
If a person being GAY warrants death then let me shed some light on the other things that the Bible show ALSO warrants death: GALATIONS 5: 19 – Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, MURDERS, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. The Wages Of Sin Id Death, (which means the CONSQUENCE and PAYMENT) hence all these sins DESERVE death, both Spiritually and Physically because each of these will eventually lead to Physical death and total Separation from GOD.
If the laws of Dominica does not repay death for a senseless murder as this one, then the
Authorities themselves (Law-Makers), need to be REMOVED from power and let people with
SENSE lead the country. It does not take a GENIOUS or a person with a LAW Degree to understand
a crime that that necessitates the DEATH PENALTY.
I some countries TODAY, if you are caught stealing, your HANDS ore Chopped Off, if you Rape,
your Private part is CUT Off, WHY is it that when someone commits such a heinous crime as this one can go sit in a prison for a few years and have a chance to come out and possibly DO THE SAME THING AGAIN????? Why Mr. Law Maker? WHY?
And for those people who had the opportunity to first of all STOP the crime from happening, HOW can you stand by and watch one person murder another person and DO NOTHING? This is beyond my comprehension because lets assume for a moment it was your BLOOD Brother or FAMILY MEMBER being Stabbed like that, would you stand by and let that happen? I don’t care if I get Hurt or even DIE in the process, if ANYBODY IS BEING MURDERED LIKE THAT AND I AM THERE I CANNOT STAND THERE AND DO NOTHING EVEN IF IT COST ME MY VERY LIFE. I would want somebody else to do the same for me: listen people “We ARE EACH OTHERS KEEPER”.
May Mr. Clement ‘Johnson’ James RIP.
I pray that the perpetrator is reprimanded and dealt with as severely as he did with Mr. Clement.
lpease this man need to hang by his 2 balls if not twist the top one,let him paid for what he wont like for him self,he is gay ,let him be what he wants, dont kill him like a street dog,his a human being just like us,gay people are very nice people.
DA is really heading into a different direction.. SO u mean to tell me just bcuz the man was gay, this guy thinks dat he has the rite to take the man’s life..This is so so sad.. I am not for homosexuality but everybody have their choice.. u don’t control people lives..Trust me the same Bulling he Against he will get it in his ASS when he goes to stockfarm…This is ridiculous..I sympathise with the family of the deceased..MAy his soul rip..
skerrit it seems as if you addressing the wrong things the your country. Airport employees tardiness should be the last thing for you to publicly address, your focus needs to be on the recent crime increase
on the island and what you and your the government are going to do to tackle this issue. Show the same passion that you showed for the airport being not staffed at 9am so this poor mans life wasn’t lost invane.
The police force in dominica is a joke, all this display is the need for law abiding citizens to take the law in
their own hands. Also i am dissappionted in the citizens who stood by and did nothing to help this man. Where in 2010 and more people need to be trained on cpr and first aid. Not to mention their is no preservation of the crime scene or any of these crime scenes of victims lately. All the police force wants to do is walk around in their uniforms with their chest out like idiots. A security guard in the u.s. is more properly trained than you guys.
The GOOD book says “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me”. I can’t believe that people saw what happened and did not come to the man’s assistance. someone could have called the police or ambulance. These people are more wicked than the killer himself.
May your sould rest in peace Johnson. I remember use to be in my village baking bread he was never a trouble maker. i would suggest the hang that sucker. THEY NEED TO BRING BACK HANGING.
I totally agree with Valda
What that should really happen to you, is go to jail and be somebody woman. Just take a mans life just like that, so sad.
THIS IS MADNESSSSSSSSS!! HANGING NEEDS TO BROUGHT BACKKKKKK!!..OMG!!!!
do u think that people just want to be gay just so? ” i don’t know” but i think it is a choice of the gay person, as long as they are private with their life, just let it be. And the people in high places stop being afraid to talk in deffence of the gay people here in DA you don’t have to be gay to defend look at Obama, lets face it gay people are in HIGH MIDDLE and LOW places and the homophobic ones have to deal with them everyday without knowing . the gay hatters are only gay hatters in the public and become gay men girls in private and when they see another gay man in the public they see their shadow and they get frightened so to run from there shadow they play gay basher.
Wait a second, I never knew possie people to be so unresponsive towards someone lying on the ground bleeding to death and not help. A time like this ambulance take almost an hour to come get you, people around already take you and put you behind a van or any vehicle for that matter and take you to the hospital themselves even passing ambulance on the way to the hospital. To make matters worse it happened on Indian river bridge where there is a heavy flow of traffic and not one person helped come on man.They did nothing to help brother johnson knowing he was still alive. Even had the heart to take pictures of his motionless body on the bridge and not help. This is sad. That’s not the Portsmouth I grew up in Tal. RIP brother Johnson.
Portsmouth people not nice, u mean to tell me uall let the man kill Clement, and uall doe bitup that devil till the police come, Man the police should not be the one looking for the devil uall should bring him to the police station, He could not kill all of allu, I`m so vex boy..
My sympathies to you all. May God give you all strength and comfort during this difficult time.
am wating to seee what will become of this criminal. i dont support gays as they call them its against Gods law but so is murder. even this man was gay that did not give u the right to take his life because u did not give him life. person like this man should get the stif penality of being put on the public square and the same things be done to them as they have done to others
yes i wii boy,,,, i talk to my siblings,,,,try to avoid trouble as much as possible,,,u step on a man toe,,tell him sorry b4 he notice is u,,, u throw a man drink down,,,apologize n offer him another,,,,,a man tell u doh cross dat line or he will beat u,,,,well doh underestimate man,,,avoid him because all it takes is one fatal blow n u lose ur physical life,,,,, but wat that sad about that situation is dat there was people present when that was going on,,,,,look i doh want batti man fi mi fren,,,,truthfully speaking but many of us have relatives or friends who may be jus that n they are good charactered individuals goin on there normal lives not affecting u or n e other person,,,,,BUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE PRESENT ALLU HAVE NO BACKBONE,,,,,I’LL GO FURTHER N SAY ALLU JUS AS RESPONSIBLE AS THE MURDERER,,,YES FEEL GUILTY TOO,,,,B4 U FALL ASLEEP THINK OVER N OVER HOW U COULD HAVE PERSUADED THE MURDERER TILL U REALIZE IT 6 O’CLOCK IN D MORNING,,,,n to the murderer well that is between u n GOD
Any society that encourages name calling and the demonizing of innocent people eventually pays. We are, unfortunately, reaping the harvest for tolerating a backward culture. No matter what excuses we make now, the practice is that we never ask for proof. “Everybody saying that so it must be true”.
Today any deranged lunatic or sophisticated criminal can kill some innocent person and claim that he was gay. The trial of the murder in Jimmit is a case in point. After the man was killed his property was stolen and found in the possession of his killer. The rented vehicle was found in the possession of the killer several miles away and several days later, yet the Court believed/accepted that he was defending himself from a homosexual advance. What should we expect from a simple minded person.
We must now stop crying over stilt milk and expect more of the same. Its just a matter of time. God help the innocent victims.
@Seriously Speaking: I do not believe that being black is a right ! All Dominican Niggers should be killed. How does that sound to you??? Yes as ignorant as your statement ! argh !
@patriot: You statements of condoning and not condoning is just as ignorant as a the scum who committed the murder. It si not somthing you can or will change. condone or not your daughter, husband, child or relative is mostly likely gay. It is about acceptance and tolerance for all irrespective of their sexual preference. It is the same as saying I hate black poeple. Which right about now is how I feel about Dominican Black people !
@By The Way: let me tell you why they stood by. 1. most of them do not even know what the acronymn CPR means. that is a very ignorant and uneducated Society. Second and most striking is the fact that they all thought he was gay which means that they little uneducated brains associted him to being HIV positive and where scared to touch him for fear of getting HIV. Yet their husband is carbrits having sex with all young boy and girl that pass and they may have it and not tested. It is a web of small island mentality and serious lack of education on facts.
@Truth: You statement is what have uneducated fools doing this sort of things. Someones sexual preference is not your business. WHat you condone or not should be withing the bounds of your house and life.
Alas my foot! Do not say rest in peace because it is this small islander backward thinking that is attributed to this. It is the wicked Dominican rumours why people were all up in the man’s business. Business that had nothing to do with them spreading rumours. It is the environment of hate and intolerance that we feed our children. Who are you and what right do you have to judge someone for their perceived sexual preference? Who judges you for being straight? A man or woman has a right to choose his path and it is with him and his maker. This is beyond sad. Not just say for the guys family but for Dominica and the Dominican society.. Hate crimes now?? Is this the level we have sunken? I would love for the Dominica Society to suffer the same fate for be straight and black. A senseless death for something you may or may have control over. You people are sick and disgust me. That is why Dominica will never move anywhere and remain in the deprived state that it is. Has and will always be. I need my family to leave this place so that the volcano can erupt and you people will perish like the fools you are. Dominica has really sunk to a new low. I am ashamed to be associated to this country in anyway. Well we are queer and here. Not going anywhere.
MY SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF THE DECEASED. NOW MR HOMOPHOBIC KILLER YOU WILL LEARN A THING OR TWO ABOUT BOGGAR IN STOCKFARM. I DOH WANT THEM TO HANG HIM I WANT THEM TO LEAVE HIM IN STOCK FARM UNTIL ALL TROPICAL CONTAINERS CAN FIT IN HIS BACKSIDE. MR TOO DAMN WICKED YOU KILLING THE MAN JUST SO. DOH HANG HIM A PATAT LET HIM STAY AND TASTE SOME GOOD BULLING THAT WILL BE A BETTER PUNISHMENT. PATAY BONDAI
We need to reintroduce hanging in Dominica immediately! Cold blooded murders should suffer the same fate as their victims. Hang him!
This is horrible. Don’t you see we have a serious problem in this country? I don’t condone homosexuality, but this was indeed murder. If this was an anti-gay gate crime it is really a shame that we have let music and society influence us into this nonsense. I sure mister is a heavy listener to Mavado and Vybz Kartel. NONSENSE! A bulk of their music is “Kill batti bway”.
It is so sad to see how Dominica is becoming and patterning on the states. I say it has a lot to do with the media(television). Too many of our people, not just young, are portraying what they see on tv. I agree it’s time for law to change and reintroduce capital punishment. No one wants to know that they are going to die and that way they will think twice before taking someone elses life. This is just sick telling me you cannot even live freely in Dominica now. God will deal with him when the time comes.
May the good Lord console his family and may he resst in peace.
First and foremost to the family of Mr. James, may you seek comfort in the arms of the Almighty!This absoutely broke my heart! What a heinous crime! There needs to be laws implemented opposing these vicious and barbaric crimes.
To call this a hate crime is an understatement. I hope that Mr. James gets the justice he deserves! May your soul rest in perfect peace! May the angels embrace you! May your spirit live on!
First, my sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased. May he RIP. I do not disagree with most of the comments, Dominica definitely has a lapse in their judicial system and the way they handle crimes in general. I personally do not believe in the death penalty but don’t disagree with a more extensive punishment for the individual committing the crime. It would be better for a life sentence but unfortunately, I doubt Dominica has the means to provide that. But they should definitely re-evaluate the system that is in place now.
I also believe that the media and the Jamaican influence of it being ok, infact encouraged, to kill homosexuals in their music has a lot to do with this crime, even though the victim has not been proven to be gay. This was the killer’s own delusion and their was obviously something more going on with the killer that has gone unrecognized (most likely he was psychotic).
What shocks me the most after reading this article, is that the people standing around allowed this to happen and did nothing to help the victim as he was dying. This amazed me that no one even made an effort to try and save the victim prior to ambulance. I am not sure why this may be but it could be due to the lack of knowledge in handling an emergency situation and providing basic first aid. While everyone is concerned with the punishment of the killer, we should also be concerned that this man could have possibly been saved if basic first aid was provided which may have given him time to get to the hospital (which is an hour away). Another example is the drowning that occurred a couple weeks ago on coconut beach, where CPR was not performed immediately, again likely due to the lack of knowledge of basic CPR. Basically, what needs to happen is a community class of basic first aid and CPR, that may limit uncalled for deaths. WE as people need to demand these things from our government and begin to help our community by acting positively and helping each other in every way. Thank you, again rest in peace and prayers for the family.
@Jayne: Jane i gave you a thumbs up for your comment, and i’ll also give my opinion. The lack of Education is the answer. That is exactly why Buju Bantan lost his career and cannot perform in developed countries. It is not poverty that is the crime, it is the lack of education, for that in itself is the usual cause for poverty.
i just want to say to the family of the deceased Gods stength.may they find comfort in this time of sorrow.i do not condon gay lifestyles, but isn’t hate and murder also wrong?what about fornication and adultery, backbitting and all the other crimes God hates, who are we to be judgemental, those vigilanties like that smoking murderous chimney needs not sit in jail on my hard working tax dollars , he needs to be put away from the earth.
please i beg to those authority, let justice prevail for the victims even though they are not alive to see it. this is becoming rediculous now. dominica is fighting its own wars and as a nation those of us who say we are patriotic let us come together and help solve those nonesense
This entire article is disturbing. The fact that a man got stabbed in broad daylight is disheartening enough as to is reading that “Passersby reportedly spent more time looking at the man take his last breaths than they did soliciting help. By the time an ambulance was on the scene the victim’s blood was said to be almost dried on the roadside.”
People witnessed this tragic death … people did very little to help … people were content to watch as another man got killed in broad daylight.
What has happened to apres bondieu c’est la terre?
The same thing he against, they will do him in jail!!!! He’ll get it!
We need to re-introduce hanging or the electric chair in Dominica, for murderous crimes, in that way murderers will think twice. Let God be the Judge for other comitted Sin. Lets try to live in peace and harmony and let god reighn in our hearts.
Its time for us to introduce an Hour of Prayer everyday for Dominica, I mean all business places and schools close and have a session of prayer, interceeding for our land, trust me , it will make a difference and you will see the blessing of god. Other islands will take note on Dominica, it must start with us.
My question is why while this man was being stabbed why didn’t anyone help him?
@Reason: Reason you gat-tight mad reasoning here bredren/sisdren. I’m feeling ya logic, once we know you’re gay we refuse to see you as a person anymore,hell, even though you care all cancer in DA, all we see is a gay person and not a person. Let’s just hope that, maybe, just maybe, Clement ‘Johnson’ James’ death will serve as that trigger point where we change our attitude towards people that are different from us. Funny thing about it all is that the man may not have even been gay, yet he was killed because he was simply different.
@Icare
Take it easy, read the article again and understand it, the pardna who do de crime is the one helping the police, they have him in jail, that’s how we operate in DA, police know is you that do de crime they hold you put a session on you until you talk, then they charge you formally. Understand de vibes before you spit out your frustration.
I am suggesting a petition that all muderes convictef of their crimes should be hanged
please aNY BODY ALLOW A PETITION OF THIS ACT TO GO AROUND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SIGN THIS AND HAVE THE COURTS APPROVED.
THIS IS ONE SURE WAY ALL THESE MUDERERS WILL THINK BEORE COMMITING CRIMES
why why do someone think of taking another life.may he rest in peace,to the family i say just be strong.who ever will answer to the alimghty.
please bring back the death penalty
hanging
haNGING
HANGING
UNTIL WE GET THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
SEE HOW ALL THESE EFING MUDERES WILL BE AFRAID
It is very sad when one life is taken for no reason at all. We need to learn and respect each other no matter what the person lifestyle is.
Rest in peace.
I would cut out mr both hands and let me see how he go kill more gay people again. Also I think thank homosexuality should stop.some people in Dominica are too dam. Jealousy.people like that don’t deserve jail food at all
this is very heart wrenching am a young man who is agaisnt homosexuality and i know very well how the lord above speaks of illicit behaviors ,God did not say they only will burn in hell ,his word say fornicators ,adulteres ,liars and of such .what right does that guy have to kill another man because of his sexual preference whether he is gay or not ,does gay people affect our nation and break up homes like those of adulters who destroys families come on people lets be realists .it’s very sad how people think and this rift raft wo did that deserves death penalty ,our judicial system needs to introduce just that by hanging becuase it seems like killing some one today is just like drinking a glass of water aww awww what is our country coming to , 1 chr 7:14 if my people who are called by name should humble themselves and turn from thier wicked ways then saith the lord ill hear from heaven and heal thier land.christians wake up from ur complacency and turn from ur evil ways because God depends on u to heal our land.stop the back bitting and the hatred and look at you all lives and live the life God called u all to live and our land will be healed. to the family of james may you find comfort in God durring your time of bereavement and even though justice may not be served theres is a God who is the judge Of this universe this man shall get his true judgement for what he did ,this muderer who has brought shame on his family .i say hang him hang him let not a witch suffer to live nor a warlock so hang him hang him .
Crazy people need to be locked up for good and made to work to compensate the family for the rest of their lives.
Batti Boi must die, and what about Murderers? Do they live?
After reading 3/4 of the news, I could not go on because I was too upset to do so. People, we need to get serious about crime by pressing the government to re-introduce the death penalty. First, a lot of Dominica young people continue to resolve altercations with weapons and, for me putting a perspective on this story has to be one of learning/understanding what can I do to help improve the country. Words, especially loose ones have consequences like how Buju Banton’s lyrics in his song was repeated by that young man to attack this gentleman. We need to be careful to use uplifting words both on news media as in the case of DNO website and, to each other. I ask for change and, as the saying goes it has to start with the person requesting it; therefore, let us mentor young people to help them with their moral values by speaking with them frequently. I remember having the former being done by older individuals in my community and, I confess it did helped me to be the person I am today. The thing is we need to believe that the fundamentals of these methods are still helpful today despite the distraction of technology and party mindset. In fact we need to double our efforts because of the ease with which technological challenges influence young people. To the family of the deceased, may you find comfort in Yahweh’s words your love one is in a better place notwithstanding the manner in which he passed away. Please accept my sympathy and have a pleasant day.
Still SMDH after reading this article! Wow! Taking lives these days is as easy as 1 2 3………Now we have anti-gay extremists???? Who is he to decide how the man should live? Our legal system need to step up in a big way!
Until we understand that as it relates to difference in lifestyles and opinions our only responsibility is to make a concerted effort to try to live in peace with each other and not be judgemental, then there will be no end to these senseless crimes.
I agree allot of them that oppose to gay people are themselves gay or were once abused when they were young. People need to learn to respect other people’s choices or their lifestyle. If someone is gay, its his choice. I’m sure if it was a lesbian woman, she would not be treated like another woman that way……The attacker needs to be severely severly punished..executed. These things hurt my heart..
We are dealing the rising crime situation in a namby pamby fashion. When the Government of Jamaica recently took some serious measures (including a curfew) to deal with the gang violence in Tivoli Gradens the crime rate significantly went down in Kingston. (Admitedly, the secuirty forces made some serious errors in executing the stratgey). The murder rate went back up when the curfew was ended.
I believe in retributive justice. People who commit certain crimes (like raping and murdering children, killing people because they don’t like who they are) should be hung. Let’s start hanging those vicious muderers!
What a loss in such a brutal manner. I knw that man personally, well mannered, quiet, kind to those he meet and very polite. A hard working dedicated god fearing man. Now people need to understand the severity of the words they speak. Just because the man had no wife or children at his age, all it took was for one person to say the man gay. Then of course, being the insecure beings that were are, took those words and spread it like wildfire. Now as for tha thing that kill the man in high daylight like that, to send him prison would be a blessing. To kill him would set him free. I advise that they tie that up, cut off his manhood and boggar him with it let him know what it like to be gay
that is very sad . may his soul rest in peace.
So I wonder what all those so-called Pastors spewing their hatred are thinking now, ( I thought Jesus of Nazareth had taught about ‘consider the least of my brothers’) and all those homophobes scattered around our society and all those guys influenced by all that homophobic dumb dub lyrics coming out of Jamaica? So its kill batti bwai in Dominica now!
Some of our most creative and hard working contributors to the success of Dominica and our community happen to be gay. Yet all the time they getting blasted by people who just sit and watch. A bigoted society can get nowhere. It just stagnates. So be it with Dominica.
So rest in peace Mr. Clement ‘Johnson’ James. You helped people. You cared for the aged and infirmed in your off time, they died a peaceful death, however you died at the hands of hatred. So it be. But you are free of all that now. RIP.
its time to put in place the death penalty or life imprisonment. crimes will always contiue like that because these people no that u get away with crimes in da. do your thing guess what? get 10yrs and your outtttttttt. so what u expect. it is time that laws put into place. to many crimes happening and people just getting away with it. the same way the pm could say in the nite landing speech that they are going to be firm on people who comes to work late taking serious mesures on that is the same way he needs to look at all those crimes that is happening and put some serious laws in place.
i will put a little blame on the law. why. cause people figure out that they can just do crimes knowing that they will only go to jail for 10yrs. crimes will alllways conitune if stiffer punishment is not put in placed. now tell me why a case like that somebody don’t deserve the death penalty or life in prison? common people it is time. look at the things that is happening. so tired of this place its not funny.
I don’t believe that homosexuality is right but I don’t subscribe to the view that homosexuals should be killed either. The perp should be executed or spend the rest of his life in jail.
The guy may have been a gay before but he was living a life of constant repentance.
If this incident does not warrant the re-introduction of the death penalty, nothing does.
Homophobic people like the killer can only feel that storng about gay people if he himself hiding that he gay
With this escalation of crime in Dominica; not only the frequency, but also the nature of crime in Dominica, no one would be penalized for saying that they will pack their bags or leave, or that they will no longer visit the island and would not recommend it to others. However, this is the world we live in. A world on a downward spiral.
And for those who dare not go out at night, trouble searches you out at your own home. What are we to do?
Their seems to be no crime prevention strategies and the nature of some of our people is that what is going on is not their business because their houses are in order. Does it really have to come to the point that negativity hits home for use to raise our eyes to an issue?
I am confused as to who is responsible for protecting the people of this country, but is seems like the work of a bunch of security guards.
wat is really wrong with these young people of today…..everybody has their own life style…..am really sorry somebody’s family have to suffer right now just because another person doesnt like gay people…..u smoke like every minute of the day and no one trouble u…..not even the police …….poor boy……u let the devil take over u…..i hope they get u in time so they can hang u…..
They should really start hanging …yah man, give them the date that they gonna die …its worst than just dieing ..they need to suffer for their foolish selfish crimes……R.I.P bro….strenth and corage to the family and friends …
rest in peace. he looks so peaceful lying there.
It is time to change the law in this country.Something like this deserved the death penalty. They need to form a task force to deal with hate crime . This is crazy. The young man lost his life for just being him self. I just cant believe this happening in Dominica. Let’s hope that justice is servred in this case
i dont condone homosexuality because i dont htink ppl are born gay. but that doesnt mean that i am going to kill someone because they are thought to be gay..Life in prison i say but the way the court rolling there i doubt it. ppl will always want to kill ppl because they hv a chance to walk free in court. RIP to the dead man.
And on another note this homophobic mess needs to end. Seriously!!! Its is unfathomable that in broad daylight a man is butchered simply because of perceived homosexuality. And only one witness is helping the police and the fact that there is a known person of interest that is usually an aggressor towards gays and he is not yet a suspect? What kind of investigation is that!!! Can Dominicans invoke their right to make a citizens arrest and get this Murderous Loser off the Street? Anyone some justice for this man!!!
My deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the late Mr.James. May you find comfort in Jesus @ this time..
What right did this young man have to take the life of another. Is he GOD? people who are so opposed to gay people are sometimes gay themselves and is too afraid to admit it. What a sensless way to die. May your soul rest in peace.
and u mean to tell me mr have to sit up stockfarm eating my tax dollars. is death u want to see i would lock u up in a cell and starve u to death.