Glenroy Sinclair and Edmond Campbell, Gleaner Writers

Reese

A young couple who were merely playing the role of good Samaritans never lived to tell the tale of the good deed they were in the process of doing as they were kidnapped, murdered and their bodies dumped in the bushes of Mount Salus, Red Hills, in St. Andrew.

"The throats were slashed," said Assistant Commissioner of Police, Les Green, head of the Major Investigation Task Force (MIT).

Reports are that Jhanel Whyte and Tyawo McKenzie had gone to a community off Red Hills Road, on Wednesday, to look for and compensate a motorcyclist and his pillion rider, with whom they had a motor vehicle accident on Tuesday. However, they never returned home.

treated at hospital

Further reports are that the accident occurred in the Havendale area. The motorcyclist and his pillion rider were taken by the young couple to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where they were treated and released.

Arrangements were made and the following day, the couple went to look for the men. When they did not return home, an alarm was made and the police alerted. The

Gleaner has since learnt that the killer(s) had been asking for a ransom, it is not sure if they got the sum that they asked for.

According to the police, at least one man has been detained since the couple went missing. The man is related to a popular and influential Jamaican entertainer.

Smith

Mr. McKenzie reportedly made a call to a family member up to Thursday, asking for a loan. The police have also confirmed that an ATM card belonging to one of the victims, was used to make several withdrawals from a savings account.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, ACP Green said the bodies which fit the profile of the missing couple, were discovered by a farmer yesterday morning in a bushy crack, on top of Mount Salus.

Green

Mr. Green believes the bodies could have been there for at least 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the murder rate has rushed past the 300 mark in the last 70 days.

Statistics from the police reveal that more than 1,200 persons have died violently since the start of the year.

A tough-talking National Security Minister, Derrick Smith on Wednesday said the Government was moving to resume hanging.

He has asked for details regarding the number of men on death row and information on the status of their appeals.

Checks with Commissioner of Corrections, Major Richard Reese yesterday revealed that there are eight condemned prisoners.

Major Reese told The Gleaner that "everything is in order" to carry out the death penalty if authorised and commanded by the lawfully constituted authority.

Major Reese said the legal instrument is a warrant which states the time and place of execution.

All is in place for hanging to resume in Jamaica -