Man before court for killing alleged homo

Monday, March 21, 2011

A painter accused of killing a man who made sexual advances towards him was offered $300,000 bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court Friday.

Kevon Martin, 33, of Spanish Town Road in Kingston, was arrested and charged last November for the stabbing death of 59-year-old Steve Lindo at his (Lindo) home on Eastburn Road, Kingston 2.

The accused, who is charged for murder, was offered bail by Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey, despite objection from the prosecution on the grounds that Martin had no permanent address.

But the magistrate, after looking at the statement, said that based on the Crown's case, Martin was acting in self-defence.

However, before Martin was offered bail, he was abandoned by attorney Linton Walters who was assisting him, after he insisted that he wanted to speak directly to the judge.

Martin, despite being instructed that he should let his lawyer speak for him, told the judge that the lawyer told him that the police could not find anyone who knew him from the address he gave them and that could not be true.

According to the accused, he was coming from the bathroom when Lindo held onto him saying that he must have sex with him. In the ensuing scuffle, he stabbed the deceased.

According to police reports on November 7, 2010, the accused went to visit Lindo at his home and a dispute developed between them after Lindo reportedly made sexual advances towards Martin.

It is reported that a fight ensued in which Martin used a scissors to stab Lindo several times in his chest, back and neck.

Following the incident, Lindo, who was found semi-nude and bleeding profusely, was rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment. Martin later turned himself in at the Rockfort Police Station.

Martin, when he was being cautioned, reportedly told the police: "Officer me neva know him stay suh. A check me come check him cause him use to live on Spanish Town Road where me and mi girlfriend live."

Martin is to return to court on March 31.