The Cambridge Police in St James say they have sufficient evidence to charge a man in custody with the murder of a woman whose mutilated body was found in a shallow grave.

Investigators said statements were still being collected, but they are confident charges will be laid.

"Now that her identity has been established, charges will definitely be laid against the suspect. This could be done as soon as the post-mortem is carried out," an officer said.

The woman's relatives yesterday identified her as Merleen Gayle, 40, laundry attendant of Dumfries, St James. Gayle left home about 6:30 a.m. on May 23 for Kingston. She later went to Cambridge to see a friend. When she did not return, a missing-person report was filed.

On May 25, police said residents heard cries of murder coming from the direction of the suspect's house. It was also said the man was seen burning things at the back of his house.

Acting on information received, police visited the suspect and found *lo**stains at his home and burnt residue at the back of the two-room board house. Investigators walked along a dirt track at the back of the house, which led them to a nearby gully where a bra**iere was found. A freshly dug grave, which when dug up revealed Gayle's nude body, was seen. She had multiple stab wounds.