By INDARJIT SEURAJ Wednesday, January 20 2010

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GRANNY IN GRIEF: A woman identified as the grandmother of slain Cocorite man Amiel George is comforted by two other relatives yesterday. ...

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Twelve men who beat and chopped to death a Cocorite man, following a robbery spree in Cocorite Monday night, were arrested in a relentless effort by the police.

Despite the heroics of the officers, Amiel George, 24, could not be saved. He was chopped to death when he resisted the dozen-men who attempted to rob him.

And although his mother Jemma “Afra” Julien praised the officers for their quick work in apprehending the suspects, she warned that the country would soon be cleansed.

“This is the time that the devil and his imps take over,” she said.

Making reference to the 7.0 magnitude earthquake which decimated Haiti on January 12 last, she said it was God’s way of saying he has had enough evil.

“Earthquake is taking over right now. That is the command of the Lord,” she said, adding, “When the earth has shaken that is the Lord saying enough is enough.”

Julien, who was interviewed yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre, Federation Park in St James, said she was grateful for the quick response by the police, but left the killers’ fates to God.

She sent a message to criminals in the country, “Touch not God’s anointed, and do his flock no harm.”

Police reports state that just after 8 pm Monday, George had gone to Building One, in Cocorite, to purchase some items at a nearby parlour.

On his way there, he was confronted by the group of men. He was beaten and chopped several times about his body.

The 12 men were arrested. Police seized a cutlass believed to be the murder weapon.

Sgt Gosine of the St James CID is investigating.