Seven persons were murdered over the last two days, pushing to 886, the number of persons who have lost their lives by violent means so far this year.

The murders are still being investigated by the police and at least two of the persons are still to be identified.

At approximately 6:00 am yesterday, the Portmore police were called to the Ham Stables in Bernard Lodge, St Catherine where the bodies of a Cuban, Alavares Fernando Dwienskie, 30, and his 26 year-old Jamaican common-law wife, Neisha Montaque, were found with multiple knife wounds. Dweinskie’s throat had a deep slash, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) reported.

The St Catherine South Homicide team who are investigating the incident, theorise that the couple could have been slain on Friday evening, as their dinner was still on the dining table when the gruesome discovery was made. No motive has yet been established for the double slaying.

Yesterday morning, 34 year-old Junior Dawkins of Crescent Road in the Two Miles community was shot dead along Spanish Town Road. Dawkins was among a group of persons sitting under a shop piazza on the sidewalk when he was approached by a group of men. One of the men pulled a gun and shot him once in the head, killing him on the spot.

Dawkins’ sister, Jacqueline Smith, told the Sunday Observer that her brother’s murder was an act of reprisal as there was an ongoing gang feud taking place in the Two Miles area.

“Him dead through gang feud. One man dead down the road Tuesday and them just come fi a man. Him can’t even walk good; Him not involved,” Smith, trying hard to appear unfazed, said.

Her reference was to last Tuesday’s shooting death of 20 year-old Gregory Davis of a Two Miles address in a betting shop along Spanish Town Road.

Yesterday, Dawkins’ mother, Millicent Dawkins, seemed numbed by the incident and tried to do her laundry in an effort to keep her mind off the tragedy. The woman scrubbed the clothes with vigour as she sighed heavily.

“A three pickney him dead leave. Mi nuh know why dem kill him,” Mrs Dawkins said.

Along Maxfield Avenue, the burnt remains of an unidentified man smouldered under two tires yesterday morning. The police report that explosions were heard in the area on Friday night and they were summoned to the area at around 6:00 am yesterday when they found a partially burnt nude male body. Residents in the area told the Sunday Observer that the man was shot and burnt by his cronies. The residents, however, refused to reveal the man’s identity or the reason why his friends killed him.

The Denham Town police are investigating.

The body of Wayne Miller was also found by the police yesterday. Miller, who lives in Grange Lane, St Catherine, was killed along the same lane. No motive has yet been established.

On Friday morning, the body of an unidentified man was found with gunshot wounds at Passage Fort, St Catherine. The man is believed to be about 19 years-old. He is of dark complexion, about five feet, six inches tall and was wearing a black merino, blue jeans pants and Mountain Gear shoes.

Residents of the area reported hearing gunfire and upon the arrival of the police, the body was found with gunshot wounds to the ear and chest. Three 9mm spent shells were taken from the scene by the cops. The St Catherine South Homicide team are investigating that murder.

Also on Friday morning, the police reported that the body of 27 year-old Josiah Lewin, also known as “Cockspur” of Canaan Heights in Clarendon, was found mutilated and shot up along Duke Street in May Pen. Lewin’s body was found cut in half along the train tracks in the area. Two 9mm spent shells were taken from the crime scene by the cops. The May Pen police are investigating this murder.