KINGSTOWN, St, Vincent (CMC) — A St Vincent 49-year-old man, who killed a friend whose girlfriend he was found having sex with, has been ordered to serve five years in jail after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of provocation.

The High Court had sentenced Delroy Quashie to 10 years in jail but reduced it to five years because he had already served sentences totalling 28 years for sex crimes.

Quashie was initially charged with murder in connection with the August 2021 death of Shon Browne, aka “Sean Paul” at his Diamond home. However, Quashie pleaded guilty to manslaughter under a plea deal reached between the prosecution and defence.

The court heard that on August 22, 2021, Quashie visited Browne’s home where Browne lived with his girlfriend.

Browne and Quashie were friends and at Quashie’s request, left to buy rum and coke.

When Browne returned, they drank and chatted together.

Later that evening, Browne went back to the shop, during which time Quashie propositioned his girlfriend, who agreed to have sex with him. The two had intercourse in Browne’s bed and Browne saw them still engaged in the act when he returned.

Browne remonstrated with the girlfriend and used a broomstick to hit her and also attempted to use it to beat Quashie, who held onto the stick and told Browne to behave himself. Browne left the room and returned with a cutlass and tried to strike Francis with it.

Quashie pushed Browne from the room and a struggle ensued between them during which Quashie received an injury to his arm. He reportedly then took a knife from the bag he was carrying and stabbed Browne in the chest.

Browne later died of the injury.

Quashie pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of provocation.

In handing down his sentence, Justice Brian Cottle noted that Quashie had several convictions, the most recent of which were for sex crimes for which he was sentenced to 22 – and 20-year concurrent sentences.

The judge noted the aims of criminal punishment, namely retribution, deterrence, prevention and retribution. He said he saw no reason to depart from the sentencing guidelines in the case.

He noted that the maximum sentence for manslaughter is life imprisonment, a notional sentence of 30 years and that manslaughter is a serious crime.

The judge established a starting point of 15 years in prison and that aggravating the offence was that Quashie chose to have sex with Browne’s girlfriend on Browne’s bed.

He knew Browne was nearby and could return anytime.

“It would be no surprise that a man might respond with some level of violence when confronted with gross infidelity in the circumstances,” Justice Cottle said, noting that he found Quashie’s actions mildly aggravating of the offence.

Even as he outlined the various mitigating factors in the case, Justice Cottle concluded that the sentence he had arrived at exceeded what was necessary to reflect Quashie’s overall offending.

He said that taking into account Quashie’s age and the length of the sentences he was currently serving, the sentence for manslaughter would be reduced to five years.

The court concluded that there were no issues of parole to be addressed.