Forty-three-year-old Eunice Richards, who is charged with the murder of her 20-year-old son, Dwayne Hylton, was granted bail when she appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court in St Catherine yesterday.

When the case came up for mention before Resident Magistrate Simone Maddix, a bond of $350,000 was granted on condition that Richards report to the Spanish Town Police Station three times a week.

Defence attorney Sean Kinghorn, in applying for bail, told the court that the deceased was the author of his own death.

"Your Honour, my client was only defending herself when the unfortunate incident occurred. He often attacks anyone in the household," Kinghorn argued.

Defending herself

He said that, though Richards killed her son in defending herself after being attacked, it was out of love for him that she allowed him to live in her home.

Kinghorn said Hylton was always an aggressor. A police inspector who attended court supported the characterisation, stating that he, too, was a victim of Hylton's aggression.

At 1:45 a.m. on June 15, a dispute developed between Richards and her son. while the two were at their Barford Drive, Ensom City home. Hylton reportedly attacked his mother with a knife.

She stabbed him with another knife and he later succumbed to his injuries in the Spanish Town Hospital.

Richards is scheduled to reappeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court August 17.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com