Homicides continue to play a major role in the crime statistics in Saint Lucia recording levels unprecedented in past years.
Efforts by law enforcement bodies to curb serious crime, particularly homicides seem to have mixed success. However, in recent times the numbers have been climbing with the country recording 55 on the cusp of the New Year.
December 2020 has been a particularly bloody month, particularly the past Christmas holiday weekend and the days after.
On Christmas Eve, a late-night brawl at a community dancehall/bar in Babonneau resulted in the death of a man, Simon Delice, also known as Simonette, of Boguis, who was struck down with a concrete block.
Police reports state that Delice sustained head injuries which may have been the result of being hit by a concrete brick during an alleged argument with another man.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, police say they have arrested a man in his forties in connection with the homicide.
Tragedy struck yet again on Christmas day when Moses Leon, 62 was stabbed to death during his efforts to quell a fight at a small community gathering in Ravine Chabot.
He was said to have been stabbed several times in the chest.
The victim was a resident of the area and had done work stints as a minibus driver. Police disclosed that they have arrested a twenty-one-year-old suspect in connection with the incident.
An ambulance transported Leon to the Owen King European Union Hospital (OKEUH), where a medical practitioner pronounced him dead early Saturday morning.
The gruesome murder of a Babonneau resident, whose body was found bound, beaten and burnt to death sent another terrifying and horrendous chill throughout the community.
Reports indicate that Winston Dosithee, 51, of the same community passed away on Saturday at the Owen King European Union Hospital (OKEUH), hours after being pulled from a burning house at Chassin, Babonneau on Christmas Day.
When officers arrived at the scene, they were informed that a male who had been bound with cloth material had been pulled from the burning residence.
He had extensive burns about the body and later succumbed to his injuries at the OKEHU.
Law enforcement officers report that the death is being treated as a homicide. The Babonneau community has witnessed a number of killings over past months and police say they are working up leads as they continue their investigations into this latest incident.
On Monday the homicide figures moved a notch higher when a victim of a drive-by shooting in Sunbilt, Castries succumbed to his injuries at the OKEU Hospital
The victim, 35-year-old Shane Adelson was said to be walking along the Sunbilt Road when occupants in a vehicle opened fire on him.