Spanish Town

A 78-year-old resident of the St Catherine Infirmary, who has been charged with the murder of a colleague, was granted $60,000 bail in his own surety when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Roland Stevenson, who allegedly stabbed 54-year-old Rocky Thomas to death after an altercation, was granted bail after a defence attorney told the court that her client was attacked.

She said on the fourth occasion, he was allegedly awaken by the deceased, who attempted to choke him. She added that a knife was reportedly used to stab Thomas in the region of the groin. He later died. The lawyer cited that it was a clear case of self-defence.

RM Lorna Errar lamented the condition that existed at the institution. She said the facility was near to the hospital, and if the deceased had been assisted quickly, maybe things would have been different.

Further representation by the lawyer resulted in the Crown setting the case for a Coroner's Court.

At 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Thomas' body was found near his bedside at the infirmary. The police were called in and investigations led to the arrest and charge of Stevenson.