Posted: Tuesday, February 11, 2025. 12:28 pm CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Shane Jones, the man caught on surveillance footage brutally beating 49-year-old Edwin Usher, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison. However, after deducting his remand time of 1 year, 7 months, and 10 days, his remaining sentence stands at 15 years, 4 months, and 20 days.
The sentencing, handed down last week in the High Court by Justice Nigel Pilgrim, takes effect from December 19, 2024, the date Jones was found guilty of manslaughter.
Justice Pilgrim initially set the sentence at 16 years but increased it by two years due to several aggravating factors: the repeated nature of the attack, as captured on surveillance footage, suggested an act of vengeance; the crime was committed in a public space, potentially traumatizing bystanders; the emotional toll on Usher’s family, especially his mother, who described in her Victim Impact Statement how she struggled to cope with her son’s suffering before his death; and Jones had a prior conviction for harm (2023) and robbery, and the harm conviction occurred while he was on remand for the manslaughter charge.
However, the judge also considered mitigating factors, including Jones showing some efforts to change his behaviorbased on a Social Inquiry Report. This led to a one-year reduction, leaving the final sentence at 17 years.
Jones was initially charged with murder, but this was later reduced to manslaughter for the November 23, 2019, death of Usher. The attack occurred on the pavement at the corner of Vernon Street and Woods Street, following a confrontation between the two men.
Jones claimed in his dock statement that the fight started when two men picked up money he had dropped at a shop. When he confronted them, he was allegedly threatened that one of the men’s brothers would kill him. However, the court noted that while Jones argued self-defense, it was unclear what Usher did or said before being attacked, as the surveillance footage had no audio.
Justice Pilgrim acknowledged a gap in the video footage but ultimately ruled that the level of force used by Jones was not justified. The fatal beating, captured on camera, played a key role in the prosecution’s case.
With his remand time deducted, Jones now has 15 years, 4 months, and 20 days left to serve in prison.
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The post Shane Jones sentenced to 17 years for manslaughter of Edwin Usher appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Tuesday, February 11, 2025. 12:28 pm CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: Shane Jones, the man caught on surveillance footage brutally beating 49-year-old Edwin Usher,
The post Shane Jones sentenced to 17 years for manslaughter of Edwin Usher appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
