THE late-night murders of 82-year-old Merna Robinson and 37-year-old Phyllis “Munchie” Powell rocked Bayshore Park in Harbour View, St Andrew, on Wednesday, prompting a strong appeal to the police for help from Councillor Oliver Clue (People’s National Party, Harbour View Division).

“I am really in pain. I am now calling on the police to make sure that they take over Bayshore. We cannot continue to have innocent people living in fear. We have nurses, teachers, you name it, they live up there. People are living in fear because of a handful of individuals,” Clue said.

The slain women were said to be relatives.

Reports are that the women were shot just before 11:00 pm while they were at home. They were both found with gunshot wounds after residents reported hearing loud explosions.

While the police were unable to arrive at a motive, Jamaica Observer sources said it was being widely circulated that Robinson might have had close family ties to individuals marked for death.

“We tell ourselves that we must protect the women of our community and for someone to go in and brutally murder these individuals, I really condemn it,” Clue said. “I am therefore asking the people to come together. The police need all the support. They alone cannot fight crime. There are individuals up there who fear for their lives. We have the children up there panicking. We plan to have the churches coming together to ensure we have a peaceful Bayshore and that there are no reprisals.”

The councillor shared that the incident was especially shocking for him because he knew both individuals personally.

— Jason Cross

37-year-old Phyllis Powell