Youth pleads guilty, apologises for fatally stabbing friend

A St Michael man who was a minor when he fatally stabbed another boy has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The convict who is now 23 years old appeared before Justice Randall Worrell and acting Madam Justice Donna Babb-Agard on Friday and said he was not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter in the death of the then 14-year-old, also from St Michael on November 1, 2013.

“I am sincerely sorry for what happened,” the 23-year-old told the No. 2 Supreme Court, adding: “We were all friends. I’ve made a mistake. I was very young at the time, and I hope that this can past so that I can move on with life,” he said in the presence of his attorney Angella Mitchell-Gittens SC.

After accepting the plea, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC outlined the facts. Seale revealed that school was dismissed early on the mentioned date due to inclement weather. The two boys along with another friend went to a shop in The City for food before going to a nearby area to eat.

While eating, the young convict was laughing at a joke which resulted in him spitting his food in the deceased’s face. This subsequently led to an argument between the two later that day with the 12-year-old teasing the 14-year-old saying: ‘That is why I spit the chow mein in your face’. When asked whether he had done it purposely he replied: ‘Yes’ and the deceased chucked him.

Eyewitnesses said the convict went home and returned to the scene soon after.

“[The 12-year-old] returned about four minutes later however, he was now bareback and barefooted as he was walking towards us and his hands were behind his back,” said a male witness who was also a minor at the time.

He told police the deceased picked up an old chair leg from inside an abandoned car, and the convict pulled a knife from behind his back and stabbed the 14-year-old repeatedly. The 14-year-old was able to hit his attacker with the chair leg causing him to drop the knife.

The 14-year-old was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private vehicle, where he died from his injuries.

A post-mortem determined that his death was due to cardiac tamponade resulting from a stab wound to the chest.

The case continues on Thursday.