WESTERN BUREAU — The Westmoreland police were yesterday searching for twin brothers who are wanted for questioning in connection with the brutal killing of Anthony Smith, a 28 year-old labourer of Red Ground, Negril in the parish.

According to Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) liaison officer for the parish, Sergeant Alva Douglas, Smith was allegedly chopped to death by Anthony and Michael Lawrence during a dispute over the disposal of garbage.

Douglas said that at about 1:00 pm on Thursday, Smith and the two brothers, who are all tenants at a dwelling in Red Ground, were involved in a heated exchange of words after Smith accused them of not properly disposing of their garbage.

The police said during the dispute, the brothers allegedly armed themselves with machetes, which they reportedly used to chop Smith all over the body.

Smith was taken to the Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital where he was treated and later transferred to the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

He later died while undergoing treatment.

The brothers fled the scene and are now being sought by the police.

Smith’s death brings to 21, the number of persons killed violently in the parish since the start of the year.

Last year, 40 persons were murdered in Westmoreland in what the police said was the highest in over 20 years.