manslaughter.

Yesterday in Supreme Court Sean Charles Hurbert Smith received a seven and a half year sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter while Jamel Tito Dean Smith received two years in prison for playing a lesser role in the death of Reginald Chesterfield Wilson. Earlier this summer both men had pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. This week they changed their pleas to guilty to the charge of manslaughter.

Crown Counsel Peter DeJulio told the court that on February 14, 1994 Sean Smith, with a third party, drove to Jamel's house. The other individual said he wanted to "rough-up'' Wilson.

Armed with a baseball bat and a machete they went to Admiralty House where they were drinking beer and vodka.

Jamel, who is single and unemployed, hid the weapons behind a tree and after a short while Sean retrieved the bat and struck Wilson.

Sean, a single painter in his father's business, was then joined by the third party who started attacking him with the machete.

Jamel said he saw Sean and the third party assaulting Wilson, throw his body overboard, and throw away the baseball bat and the machete. They also burned their bloody clothes.

Mr. DeJulio said: "Neither man knew that the third party would kill Wilson, but they knew that he wanted to assault him and agreed to help with that.'' Defence lawyer for the two men, Mark Pettingill, told Puisne Judge the Hon.

Mr. Justice Meerabux that "both (men) have been remorseful and emotionally troubled by the death of Reginald.'' Pettingill said that: "It is clear from the facts that Jamel never struck a blow. Jamel is guilty of being naive, guilty of being mislead, and as a consequence of his foolish actions he accepts that he is guilty.'' He further added that "Sean has accepted that he played a role in this and that his role was greater than Jamel's.'' He asked Mr. Justice Meerabux to "take into account his two young daughters, 18 months and three-years-old.'' Mr. DeJulio responded and said: "Mr. Pettingill's statement is of little comfort to the family of Reginald. However they were not the chief perpetrators.'' Before sentencing, both men apologised to Wilson's family, and their own families for all the pain and suffering they caused.

Mr. Justice Meerabux said: "This is not a pleasant task.'' He then gave Sean Smith seven and a half years in prison and sent Jamel Smith to prison for two years. He added that he wants the two to be involved in some kind of programme so that they could become productive citizens.