By ANGELO ARMBRISTER

Freeport News Reporter

Twenty-five-year-old Kendrick Taylor of #6 Watkins Lane, Freeport, was formally charged in the Freeport Magistrate Court yesterday morning with the murder of 19-year-old Denardo Arthur, who died from stab wounds received during a brawl that broke out during a gambling game.

Taylor was led into the court building bound in cuffs and with a black hoody sweat shirt pulled down over his face, not far enough though to cover his wounds, evidence of an unfortunate and violent struggle.

Accompanied by his Attorney Carlson Shurland, Taylor appeared before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson, who read him the serious charge and instructed him that he was not required to enter a plea to that indictable offence.

Magistrate Ferguson explained that the pro-secution is alleging that Taylor, on Saturday, October 11, 2008 around 7:00 p.m. at Redwood Lane, Freeport, did intentionally by means of unlawful harm cause the death of Arthur.

Authorities say the police were alerted by a resident who phoned the station stating that a number of males were involved in a fight on Redwood Lane and that someone may have gotten injured.

As a result, two mobile units were dispatched to that location, where they received information that three males were en route to the Rand Memorial Hospital suffering from stab wounds received during the altercation.

Reports furthered that the officers then proceeded to the Trauma Section at the hospital, where they saw the three men receiving medical treatment for multiple stab wounds about their bodies.

Two of the three were treated and later discharged into police custody, while the third male, later identified as 19-year-old Arthur, was detained as doctors fought to save his life. However, their efforts were unsuccessful as he later succumbed to his injuries around 8:00 p.m.

His was recorded as the island's tenth homicide this year.

Magistrate Ferguson did not remand the young man to Her Majesty's Prison, but rather set the matter down to Monday, October 20, 2008, in order to obtain a medical report on the defendant, who had a visible injury to his lower face.