Suspect In Jorge Steven Mercado Case Now Looks Likely To Use Homosexual Panic As A Defense
Posted: 19th Nov 2009 Author: Michelle Penny Topics: News
Juan Martinez Matos, the suspect arrested for the murder of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado has seen his bail set at 4 million dollars and is scheduled to appear in the Court of Caguas on December 7th.
Taken past Jorge’s father when being transported by the police, Matos stopped to ask for his forgiveness, to which the father, who has spoken positively of the speed justice has been served responded by saying “I already forgave you; you should ask God to forgive you”.
Currently residing at las Cucharas Jail in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Matos has already given a full confession saying that he had been out last week looking for women in a red light district when he came across Lopez Mercardo in a blue dress, boots and wig. Believing that Mercado was a woman, Matos says he then asked him to get into the car which Lopez Mercado agreed to.
Once together Matos says that Lopez Mercado then asked for money and pulled out a knife. It was at this point Matos says he realised Jorge was a man and not a woman which caused him to have a flashback of being raped in prison leading him to attack Lopez Mercado, decapitating and dismembering him.
Friends and the media have been reporting that this confession makes it likely that Matos will use homosexual panic as a defense in a case which may will be the first to be classified as a hate crime in Puerto Rico after the passing of the Matthew Shepard Act, especially now the FBI are involved.
