Man held in stabbing death of student
April 24, 2007
THE POLICE in Portland have held a man who is believed to be behind the stabbing death of a 15-year-old student of Titchfield High School in the parish.
The body of Fitzroy Lawrence, a grade 9H student, was found in a gully in the vicinity of West Retreat. Investigation conducted by detectives from the Criminal Investigative Branch in Port Antonio revealed a stab wound to the left breast.
According to the police, the man held in connection with the student's death is to undergo an identification parade later this week. No motive had yet been established for the killing.
Meanwhile, teachers and students at Titchfield High were yesterday struggling to come to terms with the murder which occurred just over a week after the death of another student, 15-year-old Lamar Stephenson, who drowned at the Long Bay beach on Friday, April 13.
Principal Ivy McKenzie said Fitzroy's untimely death had left a void in the school which could not be filled. She said he was a student who provided support to his classmates and that his behaviour was exemplary.
"This murder is having adverse effects on his classmates and the entire school population," she said. "Having to deal with two deaths in less than a week and a half is indeed traumatic for some students. We have, however, provided students with counselling from the counselling department with assistance also from staff members."
Author: Gareth Davis
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
