Couples urged to seek cops' help after dispute turns deadly

THE PORTLAND police have urged residents to seek their intervention during domestic disputes, following the stabbing death of a man by his common-law wife.

The latest incident took place Saturday night shortly after 8:30 p.m. at Park Lane, Buff Bay, where a 22-year-old female allegedly stabbed her boyfriend, 35-year-old Rollack Murray in his back at their home.

According to the police, the two were reportedly involved in a dispute, when the woman allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed Murray who fell to the ground, grimacing in pain.

The woman reportedly made an alarm, and Murray was assisted into a vehicle, but succumbed to his injuries en route to the Annotto Bay Hospital, St Mary.

"This is our third murder since the start of 2014," said Wayne Cameron, Superintendent of Police in charge of the Portland division.

"They are all domestic murders which started in the home. I am appealing to residents to engage the police in conflict resolution, so that we can assist with diffusion of tensions. We did our investigation, and there was no report made to the police by either party which would have allowed us to engage them in counselling or mediation. Too many domestic disputes have resulted in murder which could have been prevented, had the police known about any such disputes."

It is the third murder since the start of 2014 for Portland following two stabbing deaths which took place less than 12 hours apart on January 15.