Less than 48 hours after a policeman was shot to death, a murder was allegedly committed by his best friend defending the cop’s character, in St Mary.
The man was in police custody at the weekend. He is accused of having stabbed to death a fireman, in an argument over the death of Cons Shane Francis.
The man is said to be the best friend of Cons Francis, who was killed by a licensed firearm holder on Sunday night, April 17. He turned himself over to the police last Wednesday, April 20, after he was listed as wanted in connection with the stabbing death of a firefighter on Tuesday night, April 19.
Dead is 39-year-old, corporal Kevin Bariffe, a fireman attached to the St. Ann Fire Department, of Galina, St. Mary.
Reports from the Oracabessa Police are that about 12:50p.m, Bariffe and another man were among patrons at a bar in Race Course, near Oracabessa, when a dispute developed between them. A knife was brought into play and it was used to stab Bariffe in the right side. He was assisted to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The alleged attacker was on the run, but responded to appeals by the police to turn himself.
According to head of crime in St Mary, DSP Bertlan Reynolds, the man turned himself over to police on Wednesday afternoon.
DSP Reynolds said the accused man is expected to be charged soon.
Residents from the Race Course area have reported that at the heart of the dispute between Bariffe and the man, who is said to be a tattoo artiste from Galina, St Mary, was the character of the late constable, Shane Francis.
Residents further report that the men were having a discussion about Francis. It turned into a disagreement after some uncomplimentary remarks were made about the late policeman.
During the disagreement, it is reported, the man, who is said to be the late cop’s best friend, pulled a knife. The weapon was used to stab Bariffe several times. He was taken to hospital where he died.
However, those claims have not been confirmed by the police.
