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Victor Hemmings
8.154.
In May 2010, Mr. Hemmings was an investigator attached to the
Office of the Public Defender. On 25 May, about 9.00 a.m., he reported to Area
4 Headquarters where he was given certain information and instructions by
Mr. Earl Witter, the Public Defender. He took a camera and went to Tivoli
Gardens where he and Mr. Witter met Bishop Herro Blair and Dr. Jaslin Salmon.
8.155.
About 11.00 a.m. Messrs. Witter, Blair, Salmon and Hemmings set
out from the Community Centre, under military escort, to walk around Tivoli
Gardens and observe the situation there. Mr. Hemmings took a large number of
photographs. Lord Gifford informed the Enquiry that approximately
3,500 photographs were taken.
8.156.
On 28 October 2015, Mr. Hemmings produced 37photographs
which showed damage to buildings, two dead bodies and blood stained
properties. He said that residents pointed out to him damage to property and
evidence of blood.
FINDINGS
8.157.
The photographic evidence supported the oral evidence of
residents who testified at the Enquiry and enables us to find that there
was widespread damage to private property.
Evidence of Mr. Earl Witter Q.C.
8.158.
Mr. Witter, as Public Defender, had his office investigate
approximately 700 complaints (excluding personal injuries and detentions). The
claims were estimated at $110,806,704.44. He said –
“The claims assessed by the office of the Public Defender
were disaggregated to take account of payments made by
MoLSS. The office of the Public Defender (OPD) did not