Bradenton man testifies not remembering stabbing another man

BRADENTON -- Melvin Quevedo testified before a jury Wednesday he doesn't remember fatally stabbing another man in October 2014 -- just that he was trying to defend himself.

Quevedo, 22, is charged with manslaughter with a weapon for the October 2014 death of Herman Tabora-Discua. If convicted, he will face up to 30 years in prison.

At about 9 p.m. Oct. 5, 2014, detectives say Quevedo, Tabora-Discua and another man got into a fight at Mami Carmen's Restaurante, 5604 15th St. E. The fight led to a confrontation in the parking lot of an adjacent pawn shop later, where detectives say Tabora-Discua punched Quevedo and then Quevedo stabbed him.

After collapsing, Tabora-Discua was taken to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. He died the following day after two emergency surgeries.

Quevedo has been held without bond in the Manatee County jail since his arrest Oct. 7, 2014.

On Wednesday afternoon, Quevedo took the stand in his own defense.

"I can't remember anything. I just remember that I was defending myself," Quevedo said through a Spanish translator.

Quevedo explained he went to Mami Carmen's to eat lunch and had been there four or five hours when Tabora-Discua and others seated across the restaurant began to argue and fight. When bottles started to fly, he said, the owner asked the group to leave.

Since he knew the owner, Quevedo said he was helping him separate the people. After the group exited, so did the owner followed by Quevedo, he said.

Defense attorney Peter Coen asked Quevedo if he saw where Tabora-Discua was when he exited.

"I didn't see him. He just ran up to me and he punched me for no reason," Quevedo said. "I don't remember what happened next."

Assistant State Attorney Brian Chambers directly confronted Quevedo asking: "You killed him?"

"I don't feel responsible," Quevedo responded.

Later, Chambers displayed video surveillance from a

nearby pawn shop, which shows the confrontation between the men outside. He asks Quevedo to describe the knife used to stab the victim, but Quevedo said he couldn't.

Chambers reminded Quevedo he had testified he carried the knife with him always, and then asked how he can't describe it.

"Doesn't it look like you are lunging at Herman?" Chambers asks him moments later as he plays video in slow motion.

Quevedo responded, "I can't remember anything. I just remember that I was defending myself."

Testimony is scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. Thursday. The case is expected to go to the jury later in the day.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 11:02 PM with the headline "Bradenton man testifies not remembering stabbing another man ."