Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Curious residents of James Street, central Kingston, watch as the body of one of three persons murdered in the community earlier this year, is removed from the crime scene. An average of seven persons a day were killed last week. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
A STAGGERING 746 Jamaicans have been murdered since the start of the year, 193 more than for the corresponding period last year.
Police records show that the majority of the victims, 555, were killed by the gun. Sixty-nine women are numbered among the dead.
The month of May has seen the highest number of homicides with 167, making it one of the bloodiest in the nation's history. This is followed by March with 157, January with 145 and April 127. With 155 murders, October was the bloodiest month in 2004.
An average of seven Jamaicans were killed every day last week, bringing to 49, the total number of homicides for the week ending June 4. At least nine persons have been killed since the start of the week, with two double murders recorded since Sunday.
WITNESSES CLAMMING UP
Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields, who is in charge of the crime portfolio, said he and his team were doing everything in their power to curb the crime rate.
However, he points to the unwillingness on the part of witnesses to come forward and give information as one of the biggest obstacles facing the police.
"The police alone cannot do it, everybody needs to play their part," the DCP Shields told The Gleaner last night.
Despite the rising crime figures, DCP Shields said the police have made sufficient arrests since the start of the year.
"I cannot give any figures now, but a number of persons have been arrested and charged. I realise that we have a mammoth task at hand, but we cannot do it alone," the deputy commissioner pleaded.
And Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith, last night reiterated that the crime figures were both "alarming and frightening".
"There is no indication of an abatement to this situation," said Mr. Smith.
He said the constant increase in the number of homicides was disturbing and charged that the opposition was having difficulty getting crime statistics from the police.
FOLLOWING STRONG LEADS
Meanwhile, the police say they are following strong leads into Sunday's double murder of businessman Lloyd G. Brown and his companion, Sandra Campbell, at their 29A Stillwell Road residence in upper St. Andrew.
The police have theorised that Brown's death may be the result of a contract killing.
"While there is no evidence to suggest this, based on the preliminary assessment, it could have been a contract killing," said Assistant Commissioner Glenmore Hinds, head of Operation Kingfish, the elite team which is probing the murder.
ACP Hinds said a man who the police picked up Sunday afternoon in Vineyard Town, eastern Kingston, where Mr. Brown's licensed 9mm pistol was found along with an illegal .357 Magnum is believed to be a prime suspect.
The suspect, who was injured during a shoot-out with the police Sunday afternoon, will be charged with illegal possession of firearm and shooting with intent, pending further investigation.
Homicide figures
746 Jamaicans have been murdered since January.
555 were killed by the gun.
69 women are numbered among the murder victims.
49 persons were killed last week.
167 homicides were recorded in May the highest for any month this year.
157 persons were killed in March.
