Man remanded for psychiatric evaluation

The man accused of killing the 84-year-old newspaper vendor in downtown Kingston last week confessed yesterday in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court that a 'spirit' entered his body and caused him to kill the elderly woman.

Charged with murder is 20-year-old Neville Lewis, however, he was not deemed fit to enter a plea.

After the damning allegations were read out against Lewis, he stood in court shaking his head continuously.

Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey asked him, "How old are you?" and Lewis gave a sane response saying, "I just turned twenty..."

hacked to death

At the time of the tragic incident, reports were that Lewis was 19-years-old.

The magistrate then asked Lewis, "Why were you shaking your head and why did you kill the old woman?" and the accused replied, "Because mi never ask her for any money... is because one spirit get ina mi and mi want to get it out..."

The magistrate immediately ordered that a physciatric evaluation be carried out on Lewis and he is to return to court on July 1.

A fingerprint order was also made.

Meanwhile, THE STAR reported last week that an elderly newspaper vendor was hacked to death by a man believed to be of unsound mind after he allegedly asked her for money and she refused.

Sylvia Sewell, 83, from Hanna Town, Kingston, was attacked about 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Beckford and Orange streets in downtown Kingston.

Her attacker was reportedly set upon by an angry mob, but rescued by private security personnel.

Sewell has been selling The Gleaner and THE STAR for more than 30 years and was scheduled to depart Jamaica in the next four months.