IN JAMAICA: More Murders Hit St James - Two Cabbies Shot Dead, Teen Fatally Stabbed.....Two taxi operators were shot and killed gangland-style in downtown Montego Bay and a female teenager stabbed to death in Granville as the spate of recent murders in St James took another ugly twist....killing 27-year-old Jodie Phillips of a Norwood address, and 48-year-old Roy Jones of Paradise.

Adrian Frater, News Editor  Published: Wednesday | May 28, 2014 Western Bureau

Two taxi operators were shot and killed gangland-style in downtown Montego Bay and a female teenager stabbed to death in Granville as the spate of recent murders in St James took another ugly twist on Monday night, much to the chagrin of the local police.

At approximately 10:45 p.m., two men armed with handguns opened fire on a group of taxi operators at the popular 'Gully Bus Stop' on St James Street, killing 27-year-old Jodie Phillips of a Norwood address, and 48-year-old Roy Jones of Paradise.

Two bystanders were also shot and injured.

"It is disheartening to know that despite all the work we have been putting in to curb the lawlessness, we are still having these killings," a senior police officer told The Gleaner on condition of anonymity yesterday.

"Maybe the security minister was right when he said we need divine intervention."

In the stabbing incident in Granville, which occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m., 14-year-old Ashley Morris, of Guns Drive, was stabbed to death by a 17-year-old female resident of the same community.

According to the residents' account of the incident, the two girls, who were reportedly dating the same boy, got into a heated argument, which escalated into a fight. During the fight, a knife was brought into play and the 14-year old was stabbed.

The 14-year-old, a student of the Maldon High School, also in St James, died on the spot. The girl, who inflicted the fatal wound, has since be taken into police custody.

TRAIL OF BLOOD

Monday night's violence follows sharply on the heels of Sunday night's brutal murder of popular People's National Party (PNP) activist Kenrick 'Bebe' Stephenson, who was shot dead at his Coral Gardens home; and nine-year-old Romaine Robinson, who was stabbed to death in Plantation Heights, Cambridge, last Wednesday night.

Stephenson, who was recently elected vice-chairman of the PNP's West Central St James executive, was killed by unknown assailants at approximately 8:30 p.m. shortly after exiting his house.

Two male companions who were with him at the time escaped unhurt.

Robinson was murdered by a 14-year-old Cambridge High School student, who subsequently confessed to the killing. He was found with his mouth gagged and his hands and feet bound.

He had stab wounds to the face and neck. more

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com