The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

MIKIKO Black must wait another nine weeks before she learns her sentence for manslaughter in the death of her Defence Force husband.

The 25-year-old woman, who was convicted of manslaughter in July, appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday to be sentenced by Justice Vera Watkins.

However, her lawyer, Moses Bain, told the judge that he was not prepared to proceed with the matter as he had received the probation reports just moments before the proceedings and had not had time to read them.

The lawyer requested an adjournment to be better able to prepare himself and his client for sentencing.

Due to conflicting schedules for lawyers involving cases before the courts, Justice Watkins adjourned the case to December 6.

On April 19, 2010, police found the body of 27-year-old Leonardo Black with gunshot wounds in the left side of his face.

His wife was arraigned four days after the incident before then-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, the accused said, she and her husband both reached for the weapon on the stand. She only recalled a shot going off and then her husband falling to the floor.

Jurors ruled out the murder charge in an unanimous not guilty verdict.

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.