Museum stabbing victim paralysed - Wolmerians rally to raise funds

Wolmerians are rallying to raise funds to offer financial assistance to curator of the National Museum Jamaica, David Stimpson, who was reportedly stabbed by a co-worker inside his office at the Institute of Jamaica in downtown Kingston on December 21, 2021.

The attack has left Stimpson grappling with the reality that he could be left permanently paralysed by the injuries after receiving multiple stabs in the region of his upper spinal cord.

According to police reports, Stimpson was stabbed with a knife by a co-worker, who then shut the office door while Stimpson laid slumped over his desk, then fled the premises.

The curator's life was reportedly saved by an alert security guard, who, aware that Stimpson kept an open-door policy, found it suspicious that his door was closed.

The suspect, Abbebe Payne, turned himself in days later, accompanied by a legal aid lawyer.

Payne was charged with wounding with intent and will next appear in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on February 23, having made an appearance last Thursday.

With Stimpson now facing astronomical medical bills as he will also need extensive therapy to be able to resume functioning independently of a caregiver, Jamaicans abroad who are familiar with his work are hoping to raise funds to help him in the uphill journey he now faces to regain mobility.

Stimpson's bills are already estimated to be in the region of US$200,000 if he is to have any hope of walking again.

It is also likely that he will have to seek medical care overseas to aid his recovery.

At present, he is still able to smile and has little movement on one side of his upper body.

The Wolmer's Boys' School alum had represented his alma mater in football, hockey and cricket.

Alumni groups in Jamaica, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are now raising funds help Stimpson to meet his medical costs.