He was charged for murder but this evening a jury convicted 45 year old Hubert “Yankee” Bennett of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Bennett was charged for the August 23rd 2005 killing of 18 year old Tiquon Emmanuel. On the night of the murder, Emmanuel was standing in front of the International Player’s Pub when he got into argument with “Yankee” Bennett over a bicycle. Someone had stolen Bennett’s bicycle and Bennett accused Emmanuel of knowing who stole it. Georgia Curry testified in court that she saw the men arguing, fighting, and then she says she saw Bennett stab Emmanuel. He died from a single stab wound to the heart. Bennett denied the charge from the dock but a jury took about four hours to find him guilty of the lesser charge. His attorney Michael Peyrefitte says the focus will now be on sentencing.
Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney for Hubert Bennett
“Well he was at home, he wasn’t there. Well we prepare for a mitigation. As far as I am concerned we are both happy with the verdict. There is a big difference between murder and manslaughter and the charge was murder and he was found not guilty of the murder but guilty of the manslaughter which means a huge difference in terms of sentencing and what the law requires of a person who is found guilty of manslaughter.”
Justice Adolph Lucas will sentence Hubert Bennett on March 2nd.
