SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth – A 73-year-old pensioner is dead and his alleged killer is fighting for life in hospital after what started out as a request for a loan turned violent, police say.

Police have identified the murder victim as Lesbert Wilson of Lambert Road in Goshen, North-East St Elizabeth. His alleged assailant, 19-year-old Jason Palmer, who is on bail for a charge of murder in St James, has been admitted to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) in serious condition after being chopped several times by Wilson’s neighbours.

The police say that at about 2:30 pm on Monday Palmer visited Wilson at his home in Goshen and asked to borrow money. Wilson is reported to have replied that he had no money but offered his young visitor a beer, which was accepted. The two then walked through the house to the back while in conversation.

Wilson’s wife then reportedly heard strange sounds and when she rushed to investigate she found her husband with stab wounds to the upper body.

She made an alarm and a fleeing Palmer was reportedly cornered on the verandah and chopped several times. Palmer was taken to the Black River Hospital and later transferred to the KPH in serious condition.

Police say Palmer was reporting regularly to the Santa Cruz Police Station as a condition for his bail in relation to the St James murder.