Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

SMITH

WESTERN BUREAU:

Teachers, staff and students at the Green Pond High School in St. James were left traumatised yesterday afternoon after they witnessed a student fatally stab another on the school's compound.

Dead is Junior Smith, affectionately called 'Bambino', a 16-year-old of Farm Heights in the parish. He was a 10th grader at the school.

At 5:15 p.m. yesterday, Inspector Melvin Dennis, the sub-officer in charge of the Mount Salem Police Station, confirmed reports that the accused student was taken into police custody by his mother and other relatives. The boy is now facing a murder charge.

Provoked by other student

Students who witnessed the incident told The Gleaner that during the lunch hour, Smith was provoked by the other student, also a 16-year-old 10th grader. They say during the fracas, Smith used a T-Square to hit the other student on the head.

"Him left di school and come back, jump the fence and stab Junior in him chest. Him pull out di knife, wipe it off pon him hand and walk off. Principal, teacher and everybody just stand up and watch," students related.

"Yu nuh see him stab mi in mi heart?" Smith reportedly said to his peers. "Blood started coming through him nose and mouth." A parent rushed Smith to the Cornwall Regional Hospital in her car, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Incidentally, Inspector Dennis and a team of police personnel had earlier carried out a search of the 10th grade block and seized two knives and a pair of scissors. "About an hour after we left the school, we were informed of the stabbing incident," Insp. Dennis said.

He added that the police had been giving the school some attention due to frequent problems. "Since last term we have been having dialogue with the principal almost daily, and hold lectures with the students, some of whom, including the accused, had been cautioned previously," Insp. Dennis stated.

Principal Michael Ellis was not in a position to speak with The Gleaner yesterday.