Police have finally managed to crack the two murders in St. Andrew's that left residents in the island's biggest parish in a state of fear and panic for the past three months.

A team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers under the command of Superintendent Anthony Joseph was able to charge three men in connection with the two separate murders.

The most telling of the murders was that of 19-year old Skitta Edgar of La Poterie, St Andrew's who was killed almost two months ago at her home. The Joseph-led team, after weeks of probing was finally able to lay charges on 18-year old Hercules "Mash Up" Andrews, an unemployed resident also of La Poterie for the murder.

He was detained last week Friday and formally charged on Saturday at the Grenville Police Station for the alleged murder of Skitta. "Mash Up" became a prime suspect based on information provided to the lawmen by a resident of the area.

When he was picked up, the suspect reportedly issued a statement to the lawmen which led to charges being laid on him. Police insiders have confided to this newspaper that Skitta refused a request to have sex with her attacker who then killed inside her own home.

"Mash Up" was known to be living nearby to Skitta in a small house with his own female companion. The suspect made his first Court appearance Monday at the Grenville Magistrate's Court before female Magistrate, Oforiwa Augustine as hundreds of curious onlookers assembled outside the small court house to get a first hand look at the young accused.

As the party of police officers escorted the murder suspect onto the grounds of the court house, the very emotional crowd shouted with disbelief that such a young person could be involved in such a heinous crime.

City barrister, Dr Francis Alexis has been retained to represent the murder accused. Family members of both "Mash Up" and the murdered Skitta openly broke down in tears as the suspect made his way to and from the court.

Skitta was a former student of St Joseph's Convent, Grenville, and at the time of her death was unemployed. About ten minutes before "Mash Up" arrived in the court yard, police were seen escorting the second person charged with murder in connection with the death of Tivoli Gas station employee, 36 year old John Joseph just before Christmas.

The suspect is 33-year old Denzil "Pappy" Charles, a resident of La Poterie. Charles was also charged with Robbery with Violence for an incident which occurred at the Tivoli Gas Station on August 3, 2005 in which over $1000.00 was stolen.

Police had earlier picked up Charles for questioning in connection with the death of Joseph put released him due to lack of sufficient evidence. According to a police source, the lawmen became interested with Charles following an incident at Moonlight City night club in which he allegedly pulled a gun at the owner of the business, Diego Peters.

The suspect was also involved in an altercation with a police officer at the night club. He reportedly struck a police officer in the head with a gun. This prompted police investigators to launch a massive search for the alleged weapon to determine whether it was the same gun that was used to kill Joseph.

Police have not recovered the weapon but still believe that it could help them further in their investigation. The other co-accused in the murder of the gas station attendant, 26-year old Nigel Sookram, a painter of Conference in St Andrew's also made his second court appearance Monday along with Charles in the Grenville Magistrate's Court.

Commissioner of Police, Winston James commended the residents of La Poterie and surrounding areas for the assistance provided to the Police, and also for their patience and co-operation during the pro-longed investigation.

The chief cop also praised the work of the investigating team led by Supt. Joseph for what he termed the "high quality of work done in the Skitta Edgar and John Joseph murders.

Since his return to CID a few months ago, Supt. Joseph has reportedly solved a number of crimes involving police officers themselves such as the theft of court exhibits including a gun from inside the locker belonging to a Sergeant of Police.