WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — An interpersonal dispute may be behind the gruesome killing of a man in Retreat, Westmoreland on Wednesday, according to police sources.

“That particular murder is in its early stage of investigation. We are not yet in receipt of any information that we can give an update as it relates to that,” stated Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Charlene Gray-Morris, who added, “It seems as if it is more domestic than any other crime.”

DSP Gray-Morris is the zone commander of the Negril and Little London police areas.

She was speaking with the media following a Negril Destination Assurance Council meeting at the James Hunter Event Centre located at the Boardwalk Village Shopping Village in Negril on Wednesday afternoon.

The head of Vinroy Holness, a labourer and backhoe operator who is said to be in his 40s, was found partially severed from the body on Wednesday. Reports are that Holmes was inside his house when he was attacked in the early hours of the morning.

It is understood that Holness’ two children, who were inside the house at the time of the incident, were covered and placed under a bed by the killers.

Following the incident, an alarm was raised by one of the children at the break of day.

READ: Man’s head partially severed in Westmoreland

Two members from the community, who asked not to be identified, told Observer Online that Holmes was a “nice person”. One of them said, “He and nobody in the community have anything.”

Efforts to get further updates on the case from the police were futile.

Since the start of the year, the zone has seen a significant reduction in all major crimes, including murders, shootings and robberies.

While no data was provided for the Little London police area in which the murder took place, DSP Gray-Morris revealed that the area has recorded two murders since the start of the year in comparison to six in 2014.

Last week, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Operations officer for the Westmoreland Police Division, Deputy Superintendent Jordaine Allen, told the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation monthly general meeting that since the start of the year, the parish recorded 10 murders in comparison to 16 last year.

— Anthony Lewis