chanel
Silver Member
MAYS LANDING Robert Davies said he thought his life was in danger as he ran down a Margate street in the early morning hours of Aug. 12, 2007. So when the man running behind him touched his shoulder, Davies reacted.
Davies, now 49, took what he said was a pocketknife and stabbed Lavern Paul Ritch once. The blade plunged through the British tourists heart, killing him.
One strike, Davies told jurors during his opening statement as his murder trial began Wednesday. One and run.
Davies said he believed Ritch a light-skinned black male was part of a group of Mexican men chasing him.
It was self-defense, he told the jury. It was also a mistake.
North Wildwood man admits to killing of British TV personality, claims it was self-defense - pressofAtlanticCity.com: Breaking News: with video of the defendant's opening statment,
I can't post the whole article, but it's a bit complicated. This is how I understand it.
1. "Drunk" makes comment to illegal Mexican in bathroom of the bar. "Illegal Mexican" gets other illegal buddies to go after "drunk" to beat him up.
2. Mexicans go after the "wrong guy."
3. "Wrong guy" gets chased and"innocent British tourist" comes to his aide.
4. "Innocent tourist" gets mistaken for "Illegal Mexican" and is stabbed and killed by "wrong guy."
Now "drunk" may be the "wrong guy" who made the initial comment. He says he's not, but even so, his comment did not warrant a beating. He told the Mexican he did not belong in this country, and the Mexican said I felt like he was right, I dont belong in this country, But I felt offended..
What should be the sentence for "wrong guy"? Should "Illegal Mexican" be charged with anything? Will he and his buddies be jailed or deported? Will the bar be fined for hiring them?
This town had not seen a murder in 50 years. So sad for the innocent tourist.