Shaki Crockwell's devastated cousin yesterday urged the murder victim's grieving friends not to seek revenge for his death.

Pastor Damon Hendrickson delivered an emotional speech in front of hundreds of mourners gathered for Mr. Crockwell's funeral at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, King Street, Hamilton.

Calling for an end to the "vicious cycle of disrespect" blighting Bermuda, Mr. Hendrickson told the congregation to ensure the 25-year-old is the Island's last shooting victim.

"There are those out there who are seeking to destroy, who do not value life," said Mr. Hendrickson."The tragedy of today will wear on us for a lifetime. This afternoon, I wondered just how many more shootings we will have to read about in the newspapers before we get it. How many more Shaki Crockwell funerals will we have to go to?

"At some point, the vicious cycle of disrespect for life must be put to an end. We need to change the way we live, for if we don't then what is this but a farce? The reality is that, for many of you, life in a few days will go on.

"Pointing at the congregation as people clapped in support, he added:<>"What kind of mark has Shaki left on your life? Surely, this story tells you there is value in saving everyone.

"Shaki's death was senseless; it was brutal; it was violent. You will disrespect his memory and his legacy if you do not to change."You disrespect his family if you come here today and leave here with thoughts of vengeance and malice, because that's not what we want."

The body of Mr. Crockwell, a former national team footballer and star striker and captain of Boulevard Blazers, was found in a pool of blood at the Railway Trail, Devonshire, on the evening of Friday, August 24. He had been shot in the neck.

Mr. Hendrickson was one of a string of friends and family members to speak or sing at yesterday's ceremony, while former football teammates donned outfits which paid tribute to him and formed a guard of honour as his coffin was led from the church.

Mr. Crockwell's father Danny Crockwell, dressed in the colours of Boulevard Blazers, sat quietly alongside his family throughout.

The congregation also heard a letter written by Sepp Blatter, the president of world football governing body FIFA, offering condolences to the victim's family.

The ceremony was followed by an internment at the Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery in St. George's.

Mr. Crockwell is the third shooting victim in the past four years, following Shaundae Jones in 2003 and Jason Lightbourne last year. Nobody has been convicted for the killings of Mr. Jones or Mr. Lightbourne, with many blaming the reluctance of witnesses to act as informants on murderers.

Anybody with information about Mr. Crockwell's murder should telephone Police on 299-4239 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.