Farmer charged with murdering Timehri teen after payment row

Rickland Bovell
Rickland Bovell

A 22-year-old cabbage farmer was yesterday charged with the murder of 18-year-old David Toney, who he is accused of fatally stabbing during an altercation over payment at the Timehri docks for loading produce onto a truck last week.

The charge, which was read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in George-town, alleges that on April 19th, at the Timehri Docks, Rickland Bovell murdered David Toney.

Bovell was not required to enter a plea as the charge was indictable.

According to Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, on the day in question, around 3.30 am, during an argument with Toney and his parents regarding payment for cabbages, Bovell pulled out a knife and stabbed Toney. Toney was subsequently rushed to the Diamond Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Bovell was remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned until May 15th, 2019.

It was previously reported that Toney sustained a single stab wound to his abdomen during an argument about payment for the loading of cabbage onto a truck. Toney’s mother, Judith Hosea, 39, was stabbed once to one of her arms while trying to intervene in the scuffle, while his father, Mark Toney, 48, was stabbed to the back, chest and arm.

It was also reported that David and his parents were involved in an argument with Bovell and a group of men, which resulted in a scuffle between Bovell and the two men.  The elder Toney was reportedly hospitalised and was said to be in a critical condition due to the severity of his injuries.