AfriKa CRY BLOOD

The question of how I’Akobi met his death has still been left unanswered after approximately 10 months of deliberations both inside and out of court. Although the coroner had dismissed the idea of I’Akobi going to the cliff with the intention of taking his own life, the verdict of misadventure is still debatable.

In her context it was defined as the act of running from the police which inadvertently resulted in his death. Our family vehemently refutes the coroner’s claim in this regard; as the act of running towards what the police perceived to be a 60 ft. drop head first with hands outstretched in this ‘mad’ dash for freedom quintessentially describes the act of suicide.

Although the coroner removed the police’s postulations of why he had taken his life that being (depression, homosexuality, madness and drug association), she inadvertently or intentionally accepted the single report submitted by Headley and Walkes as the irrevocable truth. (more…)

A fireman who called police after seeing a stranger in the area of his house in Pie Corner, St Lucy, earlier this year, yesterday denied to a coroner’s inquest that his actions were bigoted.

Anthony Collymore, who lives at Glitter Bay, Pie Corner, St Lucy, testified that he did not call 211 simply because he saw a man with Rasta dreadlocks, but because he saw a stranger in an area well-known for illegal drug activity.

Collymore was the fifth person to give evidence on the first day of the coroner’s inquest into the unnatural death of I’Akobi Maloney.

He told the court that on arriving home on June 17, he noticed a barebacked man with dreadlocks stooping about six feet from a cliff’s edge near his home. Using his binoculars, he noticed a white boat out to sea. (more…)

by Voice of Barbados (www.vob929.com)

The Barbados Police Force states that there was never any physical contact between its officers and I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney, whose death has brought much concern to his family.

In seeking to clarify misconceptions concerning issues raised following the death, the Force states that I’Akobi was never apprehended by Police.

by Maria Bradshaw (www.nationnews.com)

A MOTHER WHOSE SON was shot and killed by the police two years ago is advising the Maloney family to ask for police from outside to investigate what happened to I’Akobi Maloney, who died in the presence of police officers near Cove Bay, St Lucy, last month.

Joycelyn Ellis, who knew the 23 year-old Maloney and also attended his funeral, said his death brought back memories of her son’s.

“I went to I’Akobi’s family and I told them not to accept what the police are telling them because it will come to the same thing as my son if they don’t do something. I tell them to bring in somebody from outside because when my son died the police told me all kinds of things.” (more…)

by Tim Slinger & PCA (www.nationnews.com)

“THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE to suggest any foul play in the death of I’Akobi Tacuma Maloney.”

That’s the word from police crime chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Seymour Cumberbatch, who also disclosed that investigations suggested that the 23-year-old man was going through a state of depression when he reportedly ran and jumped off a cliff at The Land Lock, Cove Bay, St Lucy, on June 17. (more…)