A charge of manslaughter has been slapped on a World War veteran for the weekend murder of former businessman, Clyde Haywood at his home at Mt. Parnassus in St. George's.
81 year old James Phillip, was arrested and charged for causing the death of Haywood, 77, who succumbed to a single stab wound to the body late Friday night.
Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that Phillip is the brother-in-law of the deceased, a former director of Geo F. Huggins and that both men were staying in the same house.
A source who spoke on condition that he was not identified said that the incident was triggered by a blow the deceased allegedly delivered to his wife who is the sister of Phillip.
He said the wife complained of being struck by Haywood and related this to her brother.
"When he (Phillip) asked Haywood what he hit the sister for, Haywood then tell him to ask her (the sister). He told Haywood that I asked her (the sister) and she told me to ask you, why you hit her", the source said.
Haywood was said to be irritated by the response and a confrontation ensued between the tow men.
According to the source, Phillip told police investigators that he could remember lashing out at Haywood with a knife but did not know that he had actually struck him with the sharp instrument.
He reportedly fled into a bedroom and locked the door to avoid the angry Haywood.
It was not until the break of morning that he became aware that the knife had pierced Haywood to the point of killing him.
Phillip appeared before the St. George's Magistrate Court on Tuesday to answer a charge of manslaughter that was laid against him.
An official police bulletin said that Haywood died as a result of a stab wound to the lower abdomen.
Police investigators concluded that the incident occurred during an altercation the night before between the deceased and Phillip.
Officers of the Criminal Investigation Department were called to the scene during the early hours of Saturday where Haywood's body was discovered.
Attempts were being made after the court hearing to post bail for Phillip in an effort to avoid the senior citizen being taken away to the Richmond Hill prison to await his next court hearing.
