ST ANDREW, Jamaica – A dispute between two men, which escalated into a physical confrontation in Irish Town, St Andrew on Friday, July 1, has come to a head with charges being laid against one of the men on the weekend.

Reports from the Irish Town Police are that two men got into a fight in the town square when one of them used an object to hit the other, who in turn retaliated and chopped his attacker with a machete.

The police intervened and the men were taken to hospital where the chop victim was admitted under police guard. The other man was treated.

During the investigation that followed, it was revealed that the chop victim, 34-year-old Ryan Richards, a farmer from Red Light district, had earlier been warned by the police after it was reported that he threatened the other man with a firearm.

He was subsequently charged with the offences of assault at common law, unlawful wounding and illegal possession of firearm.

His court date is being arranged.

Investigators continue to probe the case as they explore the possibility of charging the other man.