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The national murder tally has reached 370 as of July 12, according to the latest serious crime statistics released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

This represents a 41 per cent reduction in homicides, with the data indicating that 258 fewer murders were committed year-to-date.

The data also show that 14 murders were recorded during the week of July 5 to 12.

Notably, seven of those murders occurred within a 24-hour period between Wednesday, July 8, at 5:45 a.m. and Thursday, July 9, at 5:45 a.m.

These homicides were spread across several policing divisions and followed a 24-hour period--from Tuesday, July 7, at 5:45 a.m. to Wednesday, July 8, at 5:45 a.m.--during which no murders were recorded.

One of the first murders this week was the fatal stabbing of 43-year-old Neisha Williams in Rae Town in Kingston.

Williams was attacked around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday by her cousin along Paradise Avenue.

Moments later, he was fatally shot by police who were summoned to the area.

The St Andrew South Police Division leads all 19 police divisions in Jamaica with 50 murders.

This is followed by St Catherine South with 33, and St Catherine North, St James, and St Ann with 30 murders each.

Trelawny, Portland, and St Elizabeth have recorded seven murders each, the fewest homicides reported since the start of the year.

Seventeen of the 19 police divisions have recorded a decline in homicides.

Shootings, injuries, and rape cases have also declined.

However, robberies and break-ins have increased year on year.

- Andre Williams

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