Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
AN ANGRY mob stoned and chopped a man to death in Beeston Spring, eastern Westmoreland yesterday, executing revenge only moments after he brutally attacked his ex-girlfriend at Salem Primary and Junior High School.
Reports are that shortly after devotions, the school's clerical assistant, Sophia Bent, 28, was entering the institution's multi-purpose room when her ex-boyfriend, Michael Ebanks, attacked her with a machete.
"The man entered from the rear of the building ... nobody was really paying attention," said one eyewitness who asked that his name be withheld. "When he came, she was standing with her back to him and the acting principal (Winsome McFarlene) was behind her heading in the same direction. The principal saw him coming and was about to call out to her when he used a machete to chop her on her left ear."
With Mrs. McFarlene out of the way, Mr. Ebanks, 45, reportedly made good on his attack and proceeded to chop Ms. Bent several times on her upper body, severing one of her fingers before fleeing the scene.
In the ensuing mêlée, students reportedly fled the institution crying and screaming, traumatised at the magnitude of the act.
Mr. Ebanks was later set upon by angry residents who stoned and chopped him to death about half mile away from the institution.
The police have confirmed that this was not the first time that Mr. Ebanks threatened to kill Ms. Bent.
Ms. Bent was admitted to the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth. At press time, she was reportedly in a serious, but stable condition, while Mrs. McFarlene was treated and released.
CLASSES SUSPENDED
Classes at the school have since been suspended.
Responding to the incident, president of the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA), Ruel Reid, issued a call to Government to provide "minimum-security measures" at all schools across the island.
"The JTA is very saddened and outraged at the attack on one of our members and the administrative assistant at the school," he said. "This once again highlights the need for all schools to have minimum-security measures of at least one security guard and perimeter fences."
According to Mr. Reid, less than 10 per cent of the island's 1.000 schools have a security guard operating during class time.
