A fight between two schoolgirls in St William Grant Park, downtown Kingston, this month, left many passers-by in shock.

A man who witnessed the fight said it could have ended in tragedy if a photographer did not intervene.

"All the passers-by who witnessed the fight were shocked to see two schoolgirls, dressed in uniform, fighting in the park," the man said.

"But what shocked us most was the fact that they were fighting over a man. I wonder what they are really learning in school.

"The girls had no shame because they were shouting at each other. One was saying it was her man and the other girl should leave him alone. The other girl was not backing down because she was laying her claim on the man. One of them even went on to outline some of the things the man had given her.

"One of the girls said the man did not want the other girl because she was too ugly. The girl was quick to point out that looks had nothing to do with a relationship.

"Men who were passing by called to them and told them to stop the quarrelling and fighting because they were only disgracing their school and parents. When they were fighting, some men parted them. The girls continued cursing each other.

"Shortly after I saw one of the girls running and I noticed that one of them had a knife in her hand. She began chasing the other girl. A photographer who was nearby held onto the girl with the knife and took it away from her.

"Policemen were patrolling the park at the time when the girl pulled out the knife from her schoolbag. The police took the knife from the photographer. They reprimanded the girl about her behaviour and told her if she had stabbed and injured the other girl, she would have been charged with wounding, and if she had stabbed and killed her she would have been charged with murder.

"I am sure the girls knew if they had harmed each other they could have be arrested and charged, but it seemed that their love for the man was stronger than their own welfare," the man said.

There are now too many cases of schoolchildren coming before the courts, charged with various offences including murder. The schoolgirl was fortunate the police did not take her before the court for being in possession of an offensive weapon.