To ‘grass’ means to inform on someone. In the UK the term is normally used when a criminal betrays another one to the authorities. If you are a ‘grass’ means you are not someone who is trustworthy. Normally other criminals hate ‘one of their own’ who informs on them and often there are reprisals on the informant.

However, there are exceptions. In a particularly heinous crime another criminal might find the crime so horrible his conscience ‘pricks’ him into ‘grassing’ on the perpetrators. Another exception is one where gunmen terrorise their victims, including shooting them at robberies (even when the victims have complied with the gunmen’s requests) as part of an escalating crime wave that is affecting the whole country where it is happening. Where the community as a whole are begging people to come forward and inform on these lowlife individuals who are causing so much misery. Where every single person, who has been part of a quiet law abiding community, are suddenly living a life frightened they will be the next victim of these worthless scumbags.

I refer you to our article “You Must Speak Up” see iNews 27 Oct Issue 126.  On Tuesday 25th October, Honourable Mr. Justice Charles Quin, in the case of John Alfredo Miller III had implored Mr. Miller to ‘grass’ on his criminal associates and/or show the whereabouts of the guns used in the crime. The crime took place on 29 November last year at ‘The Shoppe’ on the junction of Watercourse Road and North West Point Road in West Bay. Three armed masked men carrying shotguns and what appeared to be handguns entered the store, where they threatened and robbed both the customers inside of mobile phones and $550 cash from the shop’s register. The robbers also threatened a man (who happened to be the landlord of the premises of the shop) approaching the scene as they left the shop and made their escape, telling him to turn around.

One of the victims saw a white Ford Explorer, which appeared to have been waiting for the robbers, pick them up and drive off at great speed, heading in the direction of the West Bay four-way stop. The witness noted the registration and immediately called the police.  Sometime later, the police located and stopped the car. However, the robbers had disappeared. Mr. Miller was identified as the car driver and he pleaded guilty to the offence of being the getaway driver.

The Defendant’s counsel, lawyer John Furniss, told Justice Quin, “The Defendant is not prepared to assist the Court with the names of the gunmen because he is in fear of his life and in fear for his family.  Indeed, the Defendant has also said that he does not want to put his mother through any difficulties.”

After announcing his verdict to impose a sentence of imprisonment of five years to Mr. Miller, Justice Quin said, “This   Court is compelled   to comment   on the fact that this absence of cooperation   with the police is a deeply regrettable consequence   of the pervasive and abhorrent influence these criminals have on our community. To this Defendant I state that the fear he has for himself and his family will only spread if criminals are allowed to thrive and remain at large. I would implore this Defendant to examine carefully all the consequences related to his silence, in the round, and understand that there is no long term good for him, his family, or the community when criminals are allowed to thrive and their actions go unpunished.”

I applaud Justice Quin for his statement that is now on record. I only can hope Mr. Miller has a change of heart. Perhaps his wife and family members can persuade him. He has tainted himself and his loved ones. He could have redeemed himself and maybe acted as a catalyst for other people to come forward. He is frightened to ‘grass’ because he fears for his own life. If it was only fear he had for his wife and family I would not now be calling him a coward. He could have been called a hero. The thugs in our society win again.