WESTERN BUREAU — Fifty-three-year-old Montego Bay jerk chicken vendor, Philbert Daley was stabbed to death in the city early Saturday, bringing to 44, the number of murders committed in St James since the start of the year.

The police have arrested and charged Howard Grandston, who works as a production assistant at Satellite Image Systems inside the western city’s Free Zone, in connection with the offence.

According to the police, at about midnight Friday, Daley, who lives at Albion in the parish, was selling his chicken inside Sam Sharpe Square when he was approached by Grandston, who ordered a portion worth $100.

However, as Daley made change for the $500 that was given to him by Grandston in payment for the purchase, an argument developed between them.

It is not clear what the argument was about but Grandston, 23, a resident of the Higgins Lane in Green Pond, is alleged to have removed a ratchet knife from his pants pocket and used it to stab the older man in the chest.

Daley was later pronounced dead at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, having been taken there for treatment, while Grandston was taken into police custody and charged with murder.