Bagotstown man charged with killing labourer over water

Shelton John Bowen, the man who fatally stabbed a labourer at Bagotstown after a row over water, was charged with murder yesterday.

The charge, which was read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georger-town, stated that on April 25th, at Water Street, Bagotstown, Bowen murdered Mark Ifill.

Bowen, a 41-year-old security guard who lives in Bagotstown, was not required to plea.

Police prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that the case file is incomplete. Bowen was subsequently remanded to prison until May 18th, when his next hearing is scheduled.

Around 11 am on the day of the fatal stabbing, Ifill, called ‘Yankee,’ got into an argument with Bowen, who told him to stop filling water from his pipe. Ifill reportedly ignored the command and as a result an argument ensued between the two men and it ended in the fatal stabbing.

Mark Ifill

A police statement said Bowen dealt Ifill a blow to his head with an object, then went away after they were parted by public-spirited persons. Police added that the defendant returned minutes later with a knife and stabbed Ifill to his chest, causing him to run and collapse a short distance away.