The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@triibunemedia.net POLICE are investigating the first recorded murder of the year which claimed the life of a man in his late 30s. And last night, officers also discovered human skeletal remains at Marshall Road. The gender of the body, which was found shortly after 6pm, could not be determined as the remains were said to be severely decomposed. With last year's record murder toll at 127, police have called a joint press briefing with the Bahamas Christian Council today. The first murder victim of the new year was stabbed in front of his home on St Michael's Road, off Prince Charles Drive, on Sunday. According to police, the man was discovered with multiple stab wounds about his body shortly before 11.30pm. The victim was then taken to hospital by ambulance where he later died. Meanwhile, police are questioning a 30-year-old man in connection with a shooting incident which occurred earlier in the day. According to reports, the 32-year-old victim was shot in his arm on Homestead Street, off Wulff Road, shortly before 3pm. The victim was taken to hospital and has since been released. Police are also investigating two separate Friday shootings. In the first incident, a 36-year-old man was shot on Doyle Drive, Yellow Elder Gardens, shortly before 11pm. According to police, a man wearing dark clothing shot him in his abdomen The second incident occurred around the same time at a house on First Street, Coconut Grove, when a man was shot in his arm. Last night, Supt Stephen Dean, director of the National Crime Prevention Office, underscored the need for greater social partnership. He said: "It is early in the year, but we have recognised the need to get more community support and partnerships with members of the public. "The police don't have the antidote. We're the enforcement, but if everybody does their part we'd see a tremendous improvement." Anyone with information on any of these incidents is asked to call 919, 322-3333, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.