Spanish Town

An assault charge against a 16-year-old schoolboy was upgraded to murder recently, after a boy he is accused of injuring died in hospital.

Nicholas Beckford, 15, a St Catherine High School student, succumbed to injuries he received earlier this month.

Both boys lived on different sections of St Johns Road. Police said about 6 p.m. the boys had a dispute on a football field in Willowdene, St Catherine, during which a piece of board was used to hit Beckford in the head.

Beckford died in hospital on June 10 and the accused, who was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily arm, was then charged with murder.

Beckford's death placed a damper on the school. Several pieces of black cloth were observed hanging about the school's compound.