Inmates from warring factions clash in cell

Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

A war between rival factors in a St Catherine community has reportedly found its way inside the Spanish Town police lock-ups. This after one prisoner was stabbed several times by another. Both men live in the same community, but on different sides of the warring parties, THE STAR understands. The Star was told that one is now facing an additional charge of wounding, while the other is hospitalised. His condition was not ascertained up to press time last night.

Police said that the attacker, who is being held on a murder charge, had been in the lock-up for a while, but the victim, who is on an assault charge, was recently placed in the cells.

Police says the incident occurred about 12:30 p.m. during visiting hours. It is reported that the inmate was attacked and stabbed repeatedly in his side and lower body. He was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he was admitted in serious condition.

The incident caused scores of visitors to the lock-ups to be turned away yesterday, because of the disturbance.

"This is very bad for persons like myself who travelled all the way from Manchester to be here, and one incident caused us to be turned away," Marion Sibbles, a visitor, said. Others who turned up with different types of food expressed similar sentiments.