Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
DESPITE THERE being two murders in as many days in St. James, commanding officer for the parish, Superintendent Warren Clarke, is still quite optimistic that the city's crime rate will decrease in 2006.
"I am not very worried," he said. "One was domestic and one appears to be gang-related. We are really looking at the one that appears to be gang-related because in gang crimes we usually anticipate reprisals."
The superintendent said he was optimistic of a decrease in the crime rate, arguing that except for last year, during the previous five years murders and serious crimes increased by an average of 20 per cent. But last year, he pointed out, violent crimes grew by only five per cent over 2004. Murders in particular, rose from 132 to 139; total crimes in the parish was 856 for 2005 and 860 in 2004.
ROSE TOWN KILLINGS
"That is a difference of four down when in the previous year there was a 25 per cent increase...We are very hopeful," said Superintendent Clarke.
The two murders, which occurred less than six hours apart on New Years day, took place in the communities of Rose Height and Paradise, Norwood in St. James.
Reports are that at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, three men - 48-year-old Bal Bowen, his 21-year-old son Maurice and 20 year-old Jermaine 'Poochie' Williams were on a roadway in Rose Heights when a dispute developed between them.
During the exchange a knife was used to stab the 20-year-old several times. The police were subsequently called and the young man was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The father and son duo have since been taken into custody and received charges for the Williams death.
MAN SHOT
In the second incident, another 20-year-old was shot and killed by gunmen while travelling along St. James Street, in Montego Bay.
Reports are that George Plummer, also known as 'Kevin' of Paradise Norwood address, was in a taxi on St. James Street when he was approached by a man who brandished a gun and shot him before making good his escape.
Plummer was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His killer is still at large.
