A former security guard who violently attacked and killed a mentally ill intruder on private property in 2019 has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison, underscoring the Jamaican justice system’s growing intolerance of brutality against the homeless and mentally vulnerable.
On Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Carolyn Tie-Powell imposed a 22-year prison term on Martin Powell, a onetime security officer who was stationed at the Coconut Industry Board premises on Waterloo Road in St. Andrew. Due to reductions for time served and other legal considerations, Powell will effectively spend 16 years and 11 months behind bars before becoming eligible for parole after 12 years.
The crime, captured by surveillance cameras, occurred in August 2019. According to evidence presented to the court, a man described as mentally unstable wandered onto the restricted grounds. Rather than escorting the intruder away or calling for assistance, Powell unleashed a shocking series of blows—some 16 strikes to the victim’s head, neck, and back. He then dragged the lifeless body to the entrance of the property, leaving it there in full view.
In crafting the sentence, Justice Tie-Powell called attention to the particularly disturbing elements of the crime. Powell’s role as a guard, responsible for upholding safety, made the brutality even more egregious. The repeated blows and subsequent mistreatment of the body were cited as aggravating factors, as was the victim’s evident vulnerability due to his mental condition.
Still, the court acknowledged that Powell demonstrated some remorse, pleading guilty without forcing a trial. Statements from community members painted a picture of a person who had not shown such cruelty before. These considerations ultimately prompted the judge to reduce an initial calculation of 28 years down to 22.
This sentencing arrives against a backdrop of increasingly publicized attacks on Jamaica’s homeless population, many of whom struggle with mental health issues. Between 2021 and 2023, several high-profile murders of homeless individuals garnered national attention, sparking conversations about human rights, social services, and community safety. In response, government initiatives have expanded emergency shelter capacity in downtown Kingston, and law enforcement agencies have pursued perpetrators aggressively.
High-profile cases over recent years have included men hacked to death, juveniles charged for setting a homeless victim on fire, and stabbings that claimed the lives of those with nowhere to go. Most recently, arrests have been made in connection with multiple murders of homeless individuals in St. James, and courts have begun to impose significant penalties on offenders found guilty of such crimes.
In Tuesday’s courtroom, Powell’s demeanor remained subdued. He wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, head lowered, as he listened to the final pronouncement that his decision to resort to fatal violence would cost him a substantial portion of his life behind prison walls. Beyond the loss of one life and the long sentence for another, the case symbolizes a society grappling with how best to protect those who are often overlooked, ensuring that the most defenseless among us do not become easy targets for deadly force.
