Stravo Evans appeared yesterday before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson charged with murdering Pascal Johnson.

When he was brought into the court, Evans was in handcuffs and looked dishevelled.  He proclaimed that “this country ain’t got justice.”

He kept asking the magistrate for a chance to explain himself and to loosen his handcuffs.

The charge read that on January 4 at Laing Avenue, he murdered Pascal Johnson.  He was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Evans, 25, of 1075 Grove told the court that, ”someone said that I  murdered somebody and I turn myself in with my lawyer.”  His attorney was not in court yesterday.  Evans added that he was in Konawaruk working and he did not know anything about the incident.

He told the magistrate that he has been before her on a number of occasions but has since turned his life around.  He queried why he had been charged for the murder.  He asked the magistrate if it was right for the persons who have accused him of the crime not to come before him, to identify him.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford asked for an early date since his file was in order and had received advice from the DPP.

A visibly emotional Evans then began to cry and opined that “probably they get money to say is me” and added “I can’t get justice.”

He told Robertson that he was innocent and  she in turn told him that he must pray.  He then said that he was going to hang himself because he did not do anything.  The magistrate asked him not to hang himself since he will go to hell.  Evans answered that he preferred to go there instead of dealing with the charge.

The matter was transferred to Court Two for April 16.

Bascal Johnson, also known as Pascal, 44, of East Ruimveldt, was shot above the right eye while he and a woman he reportedly shared a relationship with were standing in an empty lot along Laing Avenue. The woman was taken into police custody for questioning but was released.  Johnson died hours later at the Georgetown Hospital.