Police Commissioner Richard Boyce says street character Albert John was involved in an altercation prior to his death but that a postmortem discovered an unrelated condition that led to internal gangrene and sepsis which killed him.
Mr. Boyce was speaking at a news conference at police headquarters which follows significant public outcry over the death of Mr. John after reports circulated on social media that he had been beaten.
Mr. Boyce gave the assurance that the police treat very seriously reports of attacks on the homeless and other vulnerable people and have been carrying out extensive investigations into the case including reviewing CCTV footage which was unhelpful.
The Commissioner disclosed that the altercation in which Mr. John was involved was the result of his having found a sum of money that had been dropped at Kings Street in the City by a great nephew of his Andre Alleyne.
Mr. John went to the hospital, where some superficial injuries were observed.
He was treated and discharged and was told to return for follow-up treatment, but he did not keep that appointment.
Mr. John was subsequently found lying on the ground at White Park Road, an ambulance was summoned and he was taken to hospital where he died and a postmortem was conducted.
Police Commissioner, Richard Boyce.
