Jersey apartment with his girlfriend last month has come forward to ask the Bermudian public to "keep them in their prayers and allow them to grieve''.

And the family said they were annoyed with the local media for failing to consult with the dead man's local relatives before running the stories.

Antoine Smith and his girlfriend Roxanne Fong Woo were found bound and shot in their apartment in East Orange on May 29, the Newark daily paper, The Star-Ledger reported.

New Jersey detectives investigating the case have not revealed any information and Essex County public prosecutor Charlotte Smith said she could not reveal anything as the case was under "active investigation''.

According to his family, Mr. Smith was a quiet, fun loving person who left the Island eight years ago because he wanted "a better life for himself''.

The son of the late Debra Smith and Gladwin Smith, Antoine's grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Richardson and the late Mr. and Mrs. Gladwin Smith.

"He is lovingly remembered as a tease, a joker and he enjoyed making others smile and laugh, always wanting others to be happy,'' one of his aunts said.

"He grew up in Bermuda participating in all the activities that a Bermudian male would do,'' she continued. "He played football, cricket, with bikes and got road rash, all the normal stuff.'' His aunt noted that while overseas he remained in close contact with his relatives in Bermuda.

"When he found out that he was going to be a father, four years ago, he was ecstatic,'' she said.

"He called us all to let us know that he was going to be a father and once his daughter was born, his world revolved around her,'' she added.

"He wanted the best for her and worked very hard to give her that.'' "The family is now trying to grapple with the fact that their jester is gone and through prayer, and with the Lord, they are slowly beginning to come to an understanding,'' the release said.

VSB broke the story of Mr. Smith's murder locally after it appeared in the US paper and was unaware that Mr. Smith's next of kin in Bermuda had not been notified by the local Police force.

Antoine Smith: The Bermudian and his girlfriend Roxanne Fong Woo were found bound and shot in their apartment in East Orange on May 29.

DEATH OBT BERMUDIAN BDA