santa cruz

Robert Newman, the 44-year-old accused of using a knife to stab his aunt to death earlier this year, was again remanded in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court, St. Elizabeth, on Monday.

The accused, an auto mechanic of Goshen district in the parish, has been in custody since last July. He was remanded as the forensic certificate was still outstanding. The accused is charged with the murder of Ethlyn Hyman-Dixon, 69, a returning resident.

Allegations are that Hyman-Dixon consistently complained about the accused man's behaviour and warned him to stop.

It is alleged that about 9:30 a.m on July 9, this year, she spoke to her nephew about sleeping with his girlfriend in her house. the two reportedly got into an argument during which a large knife was used to stab her all over her body. She died on the spot.

The court was told that a witness saw the accused man leaving the house with what appeared to be the murder weapon, with blood on it.

It was also reported that the accused had threatened to kill his aunt, his brother and then kill himself. The matter was reported to the Santa Cruz police on two occasions and Newman was allegedly warned.

Newman is booked to return to court on December 12, 2008.