12 years imprisonment for chopping friend to death

A 35-year-old Port Kaituma man who spent seven years on remand for a murder committed in 2012, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by High Court Judge Justice Navindra Singh Tuesday on the lesser count of manslaughter.

Ignatius France is accused of chopping to death his friend Mark Ashby on May 11, 2012, at Port Kaituma, Region One; he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Justice Singh ordered that his seven years on remand be deducted from the 12-year prison sentence.

Defense Attorney Maxwell McKay told the court that France acted in self-defence after he was attacked by Ashby.

The court heard that at the time of the incident, France was under the influence of alcohol.

Justice Singh, before passing sentence, told France that the incident was “a rum problem” as he noted that alcohol is a major issue in the interior regions.

The court heard that the two men were imbibing when a fight ensued and France chopped Ashby with a cutlass across his neck.

Ashby was rushed to the Port Kaituma Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Attorneys-at-law Teriq Mohamed, Abigail Gibbs and Tuanna Hardy represented the State at the High Court.