WESTERN BUREAU – William McClymont, a 41 year- old taxi operator of Shawfield in Trelawny Thursday became the first murder victim in the parish this year when he was shot and killed at Granville by one of two men who were passengers in his motor car.

It was only this week Tuesday that he started to offer taxi services.

The police said that about 9:30 Thursday night, McClymont’s body was found along the Granville main road with a gunshot wound.

Police investigations said that McClymont, who operates a taxi with a Toyota Corolla motor car, registered 8293 DY, left the taxi stand at Falmouth with two passengers on board.

However, when he reached Granville he was shot by one of the passengers, after which the car got out of control and collided in a wall. The passengers then made their escape on foot in the area.

The Falmouth police believe robbery was the motive for the killing as McClymonts’ body was found on the ground and it appears that a sharp instrument was used to cut his seat belt and remove him from the car.

McClymont, who is originally from Clarendon, returned to live in Trelawny last week after working at a guest house in Orange Bay, Hanover.

Constable Patrick Chin, of the Constabulary Communication Network, has, in the meantime, appealed to persons with information about McClymont’s murder to come forward.

Fifteen people were murdered in Trelawny last year.

Meanwhile, Linval Powell became the first casualty in the parish of St James when he was hacked to death by a machete wielder in Montego Bay yesterday.

The police said that about 9:15 am, Powell, a 34 year-old labourer of William Street, Montego Bay, was approached by a man in the North Gully area who used a machete to inflict a wound to his head.

Powell was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Last year 106 people died violently in St James.