Teen Granted Bail After Charge Reduced to Manslaughter For Killing Boyfriend

October 16 2025

Nineteen-year-old Naderia James of Baramita, North West District, has been granted bail after her murder charge was reduced to manslaughter, following legal representation by Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin, who is handling the case pro bono.

In a Facebook post, Datadin said he made representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have the charge reduced, citing strong legal reasons.

According to him, the DPP later agreed to the recommendation.

“I’m making every effort to get this teenage girl back to her family as quickly as possible,” Datadin shared, noting that today [October 16] was “a good day.”

Datadin did not disclose the bail amount.

James had initially been charged with the murder of her 20-year-old partner, Kevin Smith, a miner of Baramita. The incident occurred on September 18, 2025, around 17:00 hrs, at the couple’s camp.

According to investigators, James returned home after consuming alcohol and found Smith lying in a hammock. Smith allegedly grabbed a cutlass and struck her on the left shoulder and right hand.

In retaliation, James reportedly pulled a handmade knife from her waist and stabbed him once in the chest.

Smith collapsed a short distance from the camp, while James fled the scene and later went to the Baramita Police Station, where she gave a statement to the police.

She made her first court appearance on September 23, 2025, before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Port Kaituma Magistrate’s Court via Zoom.

At the time, she was not required to plead to the indictable offence and was remanded to prison.

With the charge now reduced to manslaughter, James has been granted bail as the matter proceeds to a preliminary inquiry (PI) in the coming weeks.

“It’s not over, as we still have a PI for manslaughter to get done. That will take place in the coming weeks,” Datadin stated.