Dwayne Mcleod, Star Writer

Investigators attached to the St Thomas police believe a 22-year-old man ingested a so-called deadly mixture of rum, soda and cornmeal, before hanging himself at his home in St Thomas last Friday.

The man has been identified as Dennis Cornwall, also called 'Keno', of a Cottage Pen, Morant Bay, address in the parish.

Official reports state that a friend went to visit Cornwall about 3 p.m. and saw his body hanging from a tree.

Police sources told THE STAR that based on information received, Cornwall and his girlfriend were having some rough times in their relationship. Shortly before he was found hanging, Cornwall had reportedly went to another section of his community and saw the woman with another man and accused her of cheating.

empty bottles

Further reports are that Cornwall became enraged and went to a shop where he purchased the items and went back home.

When investigators arrived on the scene, the empty bottles were found nearby.

"Upon arrival of the lawmen, the bottles which contained the rum and soda were found close to where the man's body was found hanging. He probably drank the mixture, thinking it would kill him. Investigations are ongoing nevertheless," one source, a detective corporal told THE STAR yesterday.

The police and residents believe the man consumed the mixture but when death was not forthcoming, he hung himself. They say it is thought in some parts of Jamaica that a drink of rum, soda and cornmeal will make one's stomach swell until the person dies.

"Di man waa end him life one way or another star. It look like di man drink di ting but when him see him naw dead or him a tek too long fi dead him jus finish off himself," Richard Robinson, 23, of the community said. He continued. "Is a youth weh did check fi him girl still eno, and di two a dem did under a little vibes since recent. To how him tek him own life, yu can see seh him did waa go by any means."

Despite their thoughts, several doctors who were contacted said they had no knowledge of the effects of such a mixture.

"I don't know what is deadly about that. I honestly never heard of that mixture," Dr Jephthah Ford said when contacted.

Meanwhile, Cornwall's suicide was the second such act to occur in St Thomas in less than a week.

Last week Monday, 74-year-old Jonathan Brown, of Top Hill district in the parish, is believed to have hung himself after reportedly finding his common-law-wife in bed with another man.