Murder accused in the George Bacchus trial, Delon Reynolds, yesterday pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter in a case from the era of the death squad controversy.
The cross-examination of retired Detective Superintendent of Police, Charles Alleyne had just finished and the Prosecution had taken Lance Corporal Assanah to the witness box, when Defence Counsel Peter Hugh indicated his client’s wish to plead.
The original charge of unlawfully killing Bacchus was read by the court clerk. Reynolds called ‘Fatboy’ pleaded not guilty to this but accepted the manslaughter charge when it was put to him. The state’s prosecuting team consisting of state counsel, Judy Latchman, Dianna Boyan and Zamilla Ally made no objections and Justice Claudette La Bennett accepted the plea.
Several persons had testified in the murder trial which started in October. A voir dire which was held because the defence challenged a confession statement had to be aborted because a juror was related to a key witness in the matter. After a new jury was empanelled, the voir dire restarted and Justice La Bennett admitted the statement as evidence in the matter.
The prosecution had already tendered the weapon that the accused used to kill Bacchus, a live round and three spent shells and the confession statement. The post-mortem report and three metal fragments found in Bacchus’s body were also tendered by the time Reynolds pleaded.
Bacchus was found dead in his bed at his 76 Princes Street home on June 24, 2004.
The matter continues this morning.
