MONTEGO BAY, St James –

Twenty-seven-year-old Kirk Barrett, a labourer of Rose Heights, St James was yesterday morning stabbed fatally when he intervened in a dispute between his girlfriend and a group of men who made sexual advances towards her.

According to the police about 5:30 am yesterday, Barrett and his spouse were standing along Harbour Street, Montego Bay when a group of men approached them and attempted to touch the woman. Her objection to their approach triggered a heated argument and Barrett stepped in to defend her.

One of the men then allegedly used a knife to stab Barrett in his chest. Barrett was taken to Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Montego Bay Montego Bay CIB is investigating.

Barrett’s death brings to 22 the number of homicides reported in the St James Police Division since the start of the year.

Ash Wednesday’s fatal stabbing comes sharply on the heels of another stabbing incident Sunday night when 46-year-old businessman Junior Brown of a Black Shop, John’s Hall, St James address was stabbed fatally by his wife, a vice-principal of the John’s Hall All Age School.

The educator has since then been taken into the custody of the police but had not been charged up to late yesterday.