PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

A domestic dispute, on Wednesday, resulted in the stabbing death of 21-year-old labourer Tafari 'Johnny' Charlton, of a Land Settlement address in Port Antonio, Portland.

The quiet and peaceful community was the scene of mourning and chaos after news broke about the stabbing death of the man. Reports from residents earlier suggested that Carlton's common-law wife, who is alleged to have committed the 'act', was severely beaten early Wednesday morning by Charlton, and that cries for help were heard coming from a house occupied by the two, along with the woman's three-year-old daughter.

Constabulary Communication Network liaison officer for the parish, Debbie Douglas-Ellis, explained that the man was stabbed once in the left shoulder by the woman during a struggle. She said both parties were involved in a heated argument, and a weapon was brought into play.

Woman not yet charged

Carlton was rushed to the nearby Port Antonio General Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Branch in Port Antonio are interro-gating the woman who has not yet been charged.

Mother of the deceased, Judith Castle, told The Gleaner on Wednesday that she last saw her son alive about 7:00 a.m. that day after he went to her house to collect a shirt. She explained that shortly after his visit, it was discovered that his girlfriend had stabbed him.

Confession

"It was his girlfriend who first broke the news to me about his stabbing," she said tearfully.

"She came up to me and said, 'I just stabbed Tafari and I don't know where exactly he got stabbed.' I was shocked, as the two appear to have been getting on well together, so I do not know how or why this has happened."

The deceased's teenage sister, who attends a prominent high school in the parish, turned up afterwards at the Port Antonio Police Station and broke down in tears before fainting. She was later rushed to hospital for treatment.

This recent killing brings to two, the number of persons who have died violently in the parish since the start of the year.

Last year, the parish experienced only four murders, the lowest islandwide.

- Gareth Davis Sr