The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net THE BODY of a man was discovered lying on a dirt road early yesterday morning. He was the country's 26th murder victim. Information on the homicide is still sketchy but police say the body was found around 7.30am on a dirt road off Cox Way, East Street. According to reports, police were alerted to the body by a passerby. When police arrived they found a man, believed to be in his early 20s, who had been shot in his head. No identity or motive is known at this time. Inspector Chrislyn Skippings said police are appealing to members of the public who may not have seen their relative for the past 24 hours to contact them immediately. Meanwhile police say they are following significant leads into the shooting death of 29-year-old Stefanno Murphy. Murphy became the country's 25th murder victim when he was found dead on March 6 in the Pinewood Gardens area. Police say he was standing outside a home on St John's Avenue when he was approached by a man and shot several times. He died at the scene. Police are appealing to anyone who may have relevant information on any of these homicides to contact them by calling 919, the Central Detective Unit on 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 328-TIPS. Last month, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said police had solved 52 per cent of the murders committed for the year. At that time the murder count stood at 21. According to crime statistics released by the RBPF, in January homicides decreased by 25 per cent, down to nine from 12 during the same period last year. However, in February murder statistics increased by 41 per cent, up to 12 from seven during the same period in 2011. Southwestern and northeastern New Providence were also identified as the areas where most homicides were committed. Police believe a handful of the murders were retaliation killings, while the majority were drug related or due to a lack of conflict resolution skills.