Police urge people to report domestic disputes before lives lost

 

There is a call for residents to report instances of domestic disputes to the police so that the necessary intervention can be implemented to prevent serious injuries or loss of life. 

 

It follows last week's brutal murders of 29-year-old teacher Tara Pinnock and her 14-year-old daughter Talia Wright, which the police say stemmed from a domestic dispute.

 

Senior Superintendent of Police Hopton Nicholson, head of the St. Catherine North Division, told students and staff at a devotion at Bridgeport High School that the police were unaware there was a domestic dispute. 

 

He said over 750 incidents of domestic disputes were reported to the Spanish Town Police over a four-month period and swift intervention by the police prevented loss of life. 

 

"That is enough statistics for me to declare that when intervention takes place on a timely basis, it is less likely for someone to be seriously injured or be killed. And the intervention takes place with the stakeholders. It takes place with the government organisations; we may use the [CPFSA]; we may refer them to the domestic violence intervention centres; we may refer them to the court; in some instances we have to make arrests. But at all times when these are brought to the police attention, we try our best to intervene and we refer to the relevant institution or organisation for further assessment and action to be taken," he stressed. 

 

Grief gripped Bridgeport High in St. Catherine on Monday as staff and students struggle to come to terms with the death of Talia Wright, who was a student at the school. 

 

The grade 8 student and her mother Tara Pinnock, who was an educator at Bridgeport Primary School, were murdered at their home in Spanish Town last Thursday.

 

According to police reports, Ms. Pinnock and her daughter were discovered at home with multiple stab wounds. They were pronounced dead at hospital. 

 

Support is being provided for students and the school communities impacted by the loss.  

 

Marcia Palmer, acting vice principal of Bridgeport High, said the school was sent into shock when news of the tragic incident spread. 

 

She said the school and ministry's guidance counselling team immediately sprung into action and visited the home of the deceased to lend support to loved ones and friends. 

 

"We sat, we spoke and it's just one day at a time," the acting principal lamented.