Forty-one killings; 34 murders so far for 2014

So how many murders have there been for the year?

Since the three murders that took place here on November 8, there have been conflicting reports in the media – some publications say 36, others 34.{{more}}

But according to figures obtained from the Criminal Records Office of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, although there have been 41 homicides or killings in St Vincent and the Grenadines so far for 2014, only 34 of those have been classified as murder.

According to the Concise Oxford dictionary, murder is the premeditated killing of a human by another while homicide, a more general term, is the killing of a human being by another.

Of the seven homicides which have not been classified as murder, two were at the hands of the police; two have been classified as manslaughter and three, according to police, were neither murder nor manslaughter.

The first of the police shootings occurred on January 16 when a mentally ill man, Alex Matthews of Greiggs, was shot and killed by off duty police officer, Cuthbert Morris. A Coroner’s Inquest held on August 5, heard that the cutlass wielding Matthews was shot when he entered the home of the police officer and his common-law-wife, who both were at home at the time. The Coroner’s Inquest determined that Matthews’ death was as a result of misadventure.

On June 4, a police officer shot and killed a resident of Byera who went by the moniker “Boyin” after it had been reported that “Boyin” was creating a disturbance in the area. A Coroner’s Inquest is to be held in this matter to determine the manner and cause of the deceased’s death.

Of the five others, the killings of Kenville “Banku” Ellis and Lenmore Grant are being treated as manslaughter, which is the crime of killing a human being without malice aforethought, or in circumstances not amounting to murder.

On April 7 at about 6:45 a.m. the lifeless body of 53-year-old former calypsonian Kenville “Banku” Ellis was discovered in the Georgetown village of Chilli. Police say, this killing is being treated as manslaughter.

Mayreau resident Lenmore Grant, 24, died from a stab wound to the left side of his neck on April 27, after it is alleged that he was involved in an argument over a cellular phone with his nephew, Glenmore Grant. Glenmore has since been charged with manslaughter.

The three remaining homicides are those of Rudolph Hector, Atiba O’Garro and Colville Ollivierre.

The body of the 52-year-old Rudolph Hector, a mechanic of Belair, was found on the road at Brighton, just outside the premises of the popular night spot Huffles Ranch on January 6. A post mortem report revealed that he died as a result of multiple injuries to the chest.

Police are also treating as a homicide, the death of Atiba O’Garro, who was shot on July 28, after he was caught breaking into the Mahogany Square Bar in Richmond Hill.

The final homicide is that of Bequia resident, Colville Ollivierre. According to reports, Ollivierre succumbed to chop wounds about his body on October 29. He was found dead at his home in the village of Gellizeau. A Coroner’s Inquest will be held into this matter.

The record year for murders in SVG was 2007 when 37 were recorded.