Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Sheldon Pusey, the 23-year-old labourer who is charged with the March 2006 murder of Ambassador Peter King, is claiming that he acted in self-defence.

Pusey was denied bail when he appeared yesterday in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

Resident Magistrate Lorraine Smith remanded him until May 2 when the case will be mentioned.

Attorney-at-law Berry Bryan, in making the bail application, said that someone took Pusey to King to get work. He said Pusey was locked in a room and sexual advances were made on him and so he acted in self-defence.

Pusey has been in custody since February 24 when he was arrested by police in Oracabessa, St. Mary. Pusey was charged by the police on March 16.

The 64-year-old King, who was a respected member of Jamaica's trade sector for over 40 years, was stabbed several times and his throat slashed.

King's nude, mutilated body was discovered in the bedroom of his apartment at Waterloo Avenue, St. Andrew, by a member of his consultancy firm on March 20 last year.

Mr. King had hosted a party at his home the previous evening.