Haitian freelance photographer Jean-Rémy Badio was murdered in the southern Port-au-Prince district of Martissant on Friday. He was shot dead in his home by members of a gang he had photographed a few days before.

Reporters Without Borders issued a release yesterday stating that it was "horrified" to learn of the event.

"Badio's tragic death is a harsh blow for the Haitian media, for whom conditions seemed to have improved during the past year," the press freedom organisation said. "This murder has unfortunately served as a reminder that gang law continues to prevail in Haiti, especially in Port-au-Prince. Those responsible must be quickly found and brought to justice, otherwise such murders will recur and will continue to go unpunished. The government must continue to combat the armed gangs."

According to the organisation SOS Journalistes, of which Badio was a member, he was killed because he had photographed members of local gangs. His family said he had received threats from gang members prior to his death.