Defendant in Jersey Shore murder trial says he killed British tourist in self-defense

MAYS LANDING, N.J. - In an unconventional opening statement in Superior Court on Wednesday, a Cape May County man serving as his own lawyer admitted that he killed a British tourist who tried to intervene on his behalf during an alleged "gang-style" fight in Margate in 2007.

Robert Davies, 49, of North Wildwood, said he was defending himself when he pulled a pocket knife from his waistband and plunged it into the chest of Lavern Paul Ritch of Penarth, Wales.

Ritch was "a hero . . . a great guy," said Davies, who is on trial on murder and weapons charges and other offenses. But in that chaotic moment, Davies said, he mistook Ritch - a light-skinned black man named one of Britain's most eligible bachelors after a stint on the reality show Gladiators - for one of a group of Mexicans he believed wanted to kill him.

In the first day of a trial that has attracted international attention, Davies theatrically demonstrated to Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr. and the jury how he was surprised from behind by Ritch, 37, and then plunged the knife into the Good Samaritan's heart on Aug. 12, 2007.

Just before encountering Ritch, Davies said, he was chasing bar patron Mario Chavez, who had punched him in the face and knocked him momentarily unconscious after he left Maynard's Café. Four other Mexican men, allegedly friends of Chavez's, were in pursuit of Davies, he said.

"The prosecution has presented that Lavern Paul Ritch was an innocent victim, and that I killed him. It's a fact that I did. I wish I could change that," Davies said.

According to police accounts, Ritch - who was on a two-week vacation that took him to visit friends in Cherry Hill - approached Davies to assist someone he thought was in danger. But despite his good intentions, Davis contended, the swimming and fitness instructor put himself in jeopardy when he inserted himself into the assault.

Throughout his statement, which lasted more than an hour, Davies referred to himself as the "big white guy" mistakenly targeted as the man who allegedly made a racist remark about illegal immigrants to Chavez in a men's room at Maynard's.

The comment was made by another bar patron who looked like him and was dressed similarly, Davies maintained. He told the jury that he would produce witnesses, surveillance videos, and other evidence to support his claim.

In his opening statement, Atlantic County Assistant Prosecutor Bill Merz had a different account. The disparaging comments did come from Davies, he said, and motivated Chavez - then an illegal immigrant - to assault the house painter.

Ritch, who was staying at Harrah's in Atlantic City, had spent the day with friends on a Margate beach and had dinner at Tomatoes, a neighborhood restaurant. After an evening of clubbing, Ritch was waiting outside another bar before returning with his companions to the casino-hotel.

When he saw Chavez and Davies run by, Ritch attempted to defuse the incident. Both Davies and Merz said Ritch reached Davies and touched his shoulder from behind.

According to Merz's account, Ritch told Davies, "I'm just trying to help you," and raised his hands into the air.

"That's when the defendant stabbed him. The knife went through Ritch's heart," Merz said.

Davies contended that Ritch never said anything to him until Davies was fleeing the stabbing scene, believing he was still in danger.

Ritch was "a beautiful guy, the kind of guy everybody loved," Davies said.

"He couldn't see somebody in need and not do something. He sees the big white guy, blood pouring down his face, chasing after the Mexican. He reacted. Lavern Paul Ritch ran up without words, without warning, without saying a word. As soon as he got there, he was struck. One strike . . . one and run," Davies said.

During his statement, Davies also told the courtroom that police should have arrested the Mexican men for crimes including conspiracy, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice concerning their statements to investigators. The detectives and police officers, he told the jury, were trying to frame him.

The trial, which could last several weeks, was expected to continue Thursday morning with testimony by prosecution witnesses, DeLury said. If convicted, Davies would face life in prison.