Police hope a reward of up to $100,000 for information about five of Bermuda's unsolved murders will help bring the culprits to justice.

Chief Inspector Antoine Daniels announced the move as part of a review of the cases with UK experts who have been on the Island since October 2008.

The reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and / or conviction of those responsible for the stabbings of Gleen Wolffe in 1999 and Marcus Gibbings in 2006. It also covers the shootings of Shaundae Jones in 2003, Jason Lightbourne in 2006 and Shaki Crockwell in 2007.

Mr. Daniels explained that although there are still investigations into older murder cases, the most recent five have been selected for initial review as "we believe these ones can be advanced a lot faster than the other murders".

The officer, who heads the Serious Crime Unit, stressed: "This reward is not a fishing expedition on behalf of the Police. We do have some evidence but are looking for further assistance to support the evidence that we have."

Asked if he is confident that the cold cases can be cracked, Mr. Daniels responded: "I think the officers investigating these crimes are not only optimistic, but they believe in the near future we are going to have some good news."

He thanked those who have helped the inquiries to date, while warning: "To remain silent puts us in more danger so it's very important the community comes forward and assists with these murders."

Posters advertising the reward will go up in public places including shops and bars.

Relatives of the murder victims welcomed the move. Ilys Darrell, grandmother of Shaki Crockwell, said: "Someone may talk because this is recession time and everybody needs a dollar."

Ms Darrell, 67, who has 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren added: "We're all hurting because we don't know why. We don't know what happened. We want closure and we don't have it."

Marsha Jones, mother of Shaundae Jones, said: "I'm very pleased that some activity is really taking place. It gives us hope and we feel encouraged."

Ms Jones welcomed news from Attorney General Kim Wilson earlier this month that a bill to protect vulnerable witnesses has been approved by Cabinet and is likely to go to the House of Assembly this summer. A witness care unit was set up in December to support people through the court process.

Ms Jones said: "I know a lot of witnesses are afraid to come forward but they (the culprits) cannot hurt everybody if we stand together as a community and say we're not taking any more."

She also thanked the UK team for their hard work.

Marcus Gibbings was a Trinidadian who lived in Bermuda for several years before his murder. Speaking from Trinidad yesterday, his father Richard Gibbings said: "I think that whatever is going to help the Police solve this crime, I'm all in favour of it. I think it's a good move, not only for my son's murder but for all the other people concerned."

The Police who saw their annual funding slashed by $2 million in last week's budget did not give information about the source of the reward funds. They did not specify how the $100,000 could be allocated between each case, but The Royal Gazette understands individual rewards would be set based on the value of information given.

Anyone who can help should call the Serious Crime Unit on 299-4315, with the Police promising that information will be treated in confidence. Alternatively, call the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.

Police released fresh details in relation to each of the five unsolved murder cases:

GLEEN (Glen) WOLFFE

"Gleen Wolffe, 43, was employed as a labourer working in the City of Hamilton. He lived alone in the Sandys parish area. He had a son and he maintained close relationships with him, his son's mother and his own mother. He was an openly homosexual man.

"Gleen's family became concerned about his failure to contact them since Thursday, 11 November 1999. They went to his home on Heathcote Hill in Sandys Parish on Wednesday, 17 November and found him stabbed to death. There was no sign of forced entry. His car was found on Union Street in Pembroke. Gleen was last seen at work on Wednesday, 10 November. The 11th was a national holiday. Unusually he failed to turn up for work on Friday, 12 November.

"An active investigation into the murder of Gleen Wolffe is ongoing. Police are appealing for anyone with any information about his murder including anyone who may have seen Gleen on, or after Thursday, 11 November 1999; or anyone who may have heard anything suspicious in the Heathcote Hill area between 11 and 17 November 1999."

SHAUNDAE JONES

"In the early hours of Sunday, 27 April 2003 20-year-old Shaundae Jones travelled with friends by car to Club Malabar in Dockyard. He left the nightclub at 3 a.m. and made his way back to the car. There were several people in the area at the time, either exiting Club Malabar or arranging transportation to other destinations. Shaundae was in the car talking with friends when his assailant walked through the crowd and shot him once in the chest.

"Shaundae's murderer then made his way back through the crowd and escaped the scene on a motor cycle. Attempts were made to save Shaundae but he died from the gunshot wound. This murder was witnessed by numerous people. They collectively describe the offender as a dark-skinned male of skinny build, at least 6ft 3in tall, wearing a red top with a hood and a black crash helmet."

JASON LIGHTBOURNE

"Around 4 a.m. on Sunday, 23 July, 2006 18-year-old Jason Lightbourne was behind the wheel of a white Daihatsu Charade sedan motorcar travelling in a westerly direction on Ord Road in Paget when he was shot and killed. Police are aware from inquiries that individuals have relevant information about this shooting and the sequence of events that led up to this murder."

MARCUS GIBBINGS

"Around 12.20 p.m. on Thursday, 26 October 2006, the lifeless body of 32-year-old Marcus Sheldon Gibbings was found in his Derwent Lane, Devonshire apartment. Subsequent inquiries revealed that Mr. Gibbings was last seen alive at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 25 October 2006 in the Ramgoat Hill, Smith's parish area. He was believed to be driving a white van bearing the logo CCS at the time.

"An active investigation into the murder of Marcus Gibbings is ongoing. Police are appealing for anyone with any information about his murder or anyone who may have seen Marcus Sheldon Gibbings between 8 p.m. Wednesday, 25 October 2006 and 12.20 p.m. Thursday 26 October 2006, to contact the Serious Crime Unit."

SHAKI CROCKWELL

"Shaki Crockwell, 25, was a well known young man, regarded locally as one of the best footballers in Bermuda. He was the father of two young boys and spent a lot of time with his son Quasie. On the day of his death, Friday, 24 August 2007, Shaki had been in and around Hamilton attending to some personal matters and visiting friends. He went back home and left there around 9 p.m. on his motorcycle. His body was found on the Railway Trail at Loyal Hill in Devonshire just after 10 p.m. He had been shot in the neck and killed."