14-year-old stabbed to death in Woodbrook

GEORGE “JUNIOR” LANGFORD, a 14-year-old Form 2 student of the Tranquillity Government Secondary School was stabbed to death at the corner of Roberts and Alfredo Streets, Woodbrook on Wednesday night and the police are now looking for a woman, said to be a prostitute, with whom he reportedly had an argument minutes before the stabbing.

Police investigators said yesterday that the young woman is  often seen loitering in the Woodbrook area. The murder weapon, believed to be an icepick, was not recovered from the scene. Police interviewed an eyewitness who claimed that she saw Langford, who lived at Nizam Avenue, El Socorro and a woman arguing around 10 pm. She told investigators that she heard Langford tell the woman he had $80. The argument continued for more than five minutes, the eyewitness said. She added that Langford cuffed the woman. She attempted to hit him but missed. She then reportedly reached in her purse for an icepick and stabbed Langford once on the left side of the chest. As he slumped to the ground, the woman fled the scene.

Officers of the Woodbrook Police Station were contacted and a party of officers led by ACP Crime Oswyn Allard, Ag Supt Errol Denoon, Sgt Valentine Millette and others responded. The body was viewed by a District Medical Officer who ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre. Several women who are often seeing loitering in the area rushed to the scene and told the police that Langford provided protection for a woman known to him. They added that he was well known by several women in Woodbrook. An autopsy carried out yesterday by Dr Hughvon Des Vignes revealed that death was due to a stab wound which punctured the left side of the heart. At the Forensic Science Centre, Hazlon “Pinky” Langford insisted that her son went to cricket practice at the Queen’s Park Oval on Wednesday, and later went in search of a woman who once lived at their home in El Socorro. She said that it was while looking for the woman that he was stabbed and killed, and called on the police to find the person who killed her son.

Neighbours of the family expressed sadness over his death, and Keisha Reed, a close friend of the dead student cried. Reed told Newsday she was supposed to attend a sports day yesterday in company with Junior at Hillview College. At the Tranquillity Government Secondary School, Dr Mervyn Reddy, the Principal, said that the passing of any student of the school was a sad one. He added that he had not yet been briefed on the circumstances leading to Langford’s death. Reddy said that Form Two students did not have school on Wednesday and yesterday because of the CXC examinations. He said that as far as he knew, the school did not have cricket practice at the Oval. Students of the school who knew Langford said that he was a bright student, but he was always harassing the female students at the school. Relatives of Langford went to the Woodbrook Police Station yesterday where they collected a few items found in Langford’s pockets. Police investigators claimed that they know who they are looking for in connection with the fatal stabbing. Sgt Millette is investigating.