A mentally ill man, who has been in custody for almost five years, was given a three-year suspended sentence when he appeared before the St Ann Circuit Court on Tuesday, November 1.
The man is 39-year-old Marlon Smith of Moneague, St Ann. The suspended sentence means he will not go to prison unless he commits himself.
Smith was initially charged with murder, but on October 12, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The charge stemmed from the brutal death of 47-year-old higgler, Elaine Cole of Jacks River, St Mary.
Allegations are that on March 31, 2012 at around 6:30 a.m., Cole, who was visiting Smith at his house in Grierfield in Moneague, St Ann, were involved in a physical dispute.
Cole was severely beaten by Smith and was found dead in a barrel of water at the house.
Her body had several swellings and abrasions on several areas of her body.
See more details in The Times next week.
