Puerto Rican Murderer Confesses, Uses Gay Panic Defense

I goddamn hate being right.

Jorge Steven López‘s murderer, arrested this morning, has confessed to the murder. The man is identified by El Nuevo Dia (horrible auto translation) as Juan Antonio Martínez Matos. As last time, I’ve made small changes in the translation for readability.

(Spanish-speaking readers can help by translating the article directly. Leave a comment or email me from the About page.)

Confessed Murderer Juan Antonio Martínez Matos

The prosecutor stated that Martinez Matos, a father of four children, went to the area of the town of Caguas “looking [for] women.” After being rejected [by] several females, Martinez Matos allowed López Mercado, who wore a blue suit and boots – to [enter his] vehicle.

The prosecutor explained that after Martinez Matos [noticed] that his companion was a man, [there was a discussion], during which young homosexual requested money, which was denied.

Subsequently, [...] López Mercado pulled a knife, [which was] grabbed [by] the assailant and was buried in [López Mercado's] neck.

The arrested [said that he thought] the person who had [entered] the car was a woman. However, upon learning that he was a man, [Martinez said that he was] angered, recalling that he had been sexually abused in prison while serving a sentence for domestic violence.

Bermudez said that there is no doubt that the murder of López Mercado [is] eligible for prosecution as a hate crime.

That’s the Gay Panic defense, just as we feared. The victim was A Homosexual, see, and Martinez couldn’t help himself on account of being raped in prison. He’s the victim, see!

Meanwhile, the staff of the Institute of Forensic Sciences (ICF) decided to inspect the septic tank of the residence [of the] confessed murderer.

In the courtyard of the apartment was found a wig, a [burned mattress], burned PVC pipe, a knife and blood stains on the wall.

Just in case anyone has forgotten, Martinez has confessed to murdering López, decapitating him, sawing off his arms and legs, and attempting to burn his body. Martinez is no innocent victim to be pitied.

As Pedro Sarrano said earlier in the day, the bottom line is that a 19-year-old gay man has been murdered at least in part because he was gay. He’s the one whose body was cut into pieces, and he’s the one whose version of events we’ll never know. As news services, prosecutors, and police begin to cast the confessed murderer in a sympathetic light, we don’t know how much of Martinez’s story is true.

When you come right down to it, it shouldn’t even matter. A victim’s sexuality is never an excuse for murder.