War among gardeners - one fatally stabbed

No. 67 Wednesday, March 17, 2010
One man is dead while his alleged killer has been placed behind bars at the Montego Freeport lock-up. The accused is expected to be charged following an incident at a resort complex at the Montego Freeport during which one of the men was stabbed to death by the other. It is understood that the killing was sparked by a dispute on the job on Monday afternoon.

   The dead man has been identified as Alva Beckford, 67 year-old gardener of Paradise, Norwood, while the other man whose name is being withheld, is a 39 year-old gardener of Anchovy.
    It is reported that both men who are co-workers and have been working together for more than ten years were summoned on Monday to the resort by the manager who asked for an estimate of a job.
    It is further disclosed that the accused man informed his boss that he and the other gardeners could finish the job within a day but this proposal was not welcomed by Beckford and the other workmen who all argued that he should have told the boss more than one day.
    About 1:30 p.m., the dispute escalated into a physical confrontation at which point a knife was brought into play and was used to stab Beckford in his chest.
    The wounded man fell to the ground in a pool of blood. Workers who witnessed the incident raised an alarm and the wounded man was immediately rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.
    The police were summoned and the 39 year­old man, who later informed the lawmen that the stabbing was an accident, was transported to the
Freeport lock-up where he is now awaiting to be charged. Meanwhile, the Freeport police are continuing their investigations into the incident.