The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

MIKIKO Black was found guilty of manslaughter yesterday in the fatal shooting of her Defence Force husband.

Jurors ruled out the murder charge in an unanimous not guilty vote. However, they found the 25-year-old accused guilty of manslaughter by reason of provocation after three hours of deliberation.

The manslaughter verdict was 11 to 1.

Defence attorney Moses Bain requested a probational report, which was granted by Supreme Court Justice Vera Watkins.

Black was tearful in the prisoner’s dock as she waited for the verdict. She broke down in tears on hearing the jury’s decision, along with family members and friends in the court room.

As she was escorted in handcuffs for remand at Her Majesty’s Prison, weeping relatives hugged her as she passed.

Maeronie Black, the deceased’s mother, said: “Whatever it is I understand it’s God who reigns in everything and God is above.”

She added: “Sometimes in that court I think they were talking about a different person, but at the end of the day there is a God above and whatever you do in life, you have to pay for it.”

Police found the body of the 27-year-old Leonardo Black with gunshot wounds to the left side of the face.

The accused was arraigned four days after the incident before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez.

She was not required to enter a plea to the charge.

Anthony Delaney and Maria Zancolla prosecuted the case, which began on July 1.

Black testified that before the April 19, 2010 incident, she and her husband had been evicted from three apartments because of the domestic disputes and fights between them.

She said on the day in question, she and her husband got into an argument that turned physical. The accused also said that the marine threatened to leave her, driving away from their Boil Fish Drive and Adderley Terrace apartment before returning moments later for his clothes. While in the living room, both Blacks reached for the weapon on the stand, the accused said, and she only recalled a shot going off and then her husband falling to the floor.

Outside the courtroom, Mr Delaney said: “I’m always satisfied with the jury’s verdict, they have spoken. They found her not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and the evidence of the case as far as I’m concerned bears that out.”

Black will return before Justice Watkins for sentencing on October 4.