An argument over ganja has left the son of Supreme Court judge Lennox Campbell dead and the son of principal of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus, facing a charge of murder.
Rodney Beckles, 21, whose father, Professor Hilary Beckles, was en route to Jamaica from Barbados yesterday, is now in police custody after stabbing to death Khalil Campbell, 28, of Daisy Avenue, St. Andrew.The accused Beckles, a student at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, allegedly stabbed Campbell 21 times after an argument over the illegal substance.
Police sources say Beckles is alleged to have denied Campbell the opportunity to smoke his chillum pipe, claiming Campbell was not mentally capable of 'handling the weed'. An altercation developed during which Beckles allegedly stabbed Campbell several times despite attempts by two other persons to restrain him.
To be charged today
Campbell died while undergoing treatment at the nearby University Hospital of the West Indies while Beckles was arrested by the Papine police. He is expected to be charged today.
The Constabulary Communication Network yesterday named Professor Beckles' son as Rodney McDonald of Bagatelle, St. James. However, UWI, Mona, sources confirmed the man arrested for the murder of Mr. Campbell was Rodney McDonald Beckles, a social sciences student at that institution.
Meanwhile, another source said Professor Beckles was experiencing difficulty getting a flight out of Barbados to Jamaica and hence opted to travel to the island via Miami. He was expected to arrive in Jamaica last night.
A table tennis player, Beckles, whose mother is believed to be a Jamaican, is a Barbadian citizen but has represented Jamaica at the junior level.
