A conductor who works along the Half-Way Tree to Portmore route was yesterday brought before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court to answer to a murder charge.

It is alleged that Ricardo Pearson-Scott and the deceased had an altercation at the Portmore bus terminus in the Corporate Area which resulted in the killing. However, those who witnessed the incident did not see any weapons drawn during the tussle.

The lawyer who represented the accused indicated that the matter was a case of self-defence since it was the deceased who approached Pearson-Scott and initially drew two weapons to stab him.

Demanding money

It was mentioned that the deceased, who is a frequent idler within the area notorious for demanding money from passers-by, approached the accused for money shortly after he exited a restaurant.

The conductor refused the request and the man got upset and boxed Pearson-Scott's lunch from his hand. A tussle ensued and at the end both men were seen suffering stab wounds. Although witnesses say they did not see any of the men with weapons or when the stabbing occurred, Pearson-Scott's lawyer indicated that the accused man said that the deceased drew a scissors and a screwdriver to stab him and that's when he pulled his knife in order to defend himself.