A friend of the man slain on Sumner Street early yesterday morning was held without bail today after being charged with a single count of murder, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

LESTER JAMES (D.O.B. 11/14/86) was arraigned in Dorchester District Court for the stabbing death of 23-year-old Francis Kargbo shortly after midnight on Aug. 23. Judge Robert Baylor granted prosecutors’ requests and ordered James held without bail.

Assistant District Attorney Gretchen Lundgren of Conley’s Homicide Unit told the court that James and Kargbo – and only those two men – were present on the upstairs porch of James’ apartment at 92 Sumner St. just prior to the incident when they became involved in a verbal argument. That argument, the prosecutor said, escalated to a physical confrontation in which Kargbo suffered a stab wound to the left side of his chest.

Kargbo fled down the stairs and collapsed on the sidewalk outside the building. James followed and was standing by him when first responders arrived. When asked where the incident had taken place, Lundgren said, James allegedly pointed up at his porch. A search warrant executed at the building revealed a blood trail leading from the porch, down the stairs, and onto the sidewalk, where Kargbo lost a large quantity of blood.

Armed with these facts and statements James made during an interview, Boston Police homicide detectives placed him under arrest yesterday afternoon.

Attorney James Greenberg was appointed to represent James. The case will return to court on Sept. 22.