Man Found Guilty of Manslaughter in Cassava Plant Dispute

February 14 2025-  A 12-member jury has convicted 29-year-old Ellison Johnson of manslaughter for the death of Cedric Jones, who was fatally beaten during a dispute over cassava plants.

The verdict was delivered earlier this week before Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the High Court in Georgetown.

Johnson has been remanded to prison and will remain in custody until his sentencing, which is scheduled for March 6, 2025.

Justice Barlow indicated that the sentencing decision will be guided by probation and prison reports, victim impact statements, and the consideration of both aggravating and mitigating factors in the case.

During the trial, Prosecutors Joy Williams and Rbina Christmas presented evidence that on April 29, 2022, Johnson and Jones, 59, a farmer, were drinking under a tree when an argument erupted.

Johnson accused Jones’ animals of destroying his cassava plants, which led to a heated confrontation.

According to the prosecutors, Jones charged at Johnson, who responded by pushing him to the ground and repeatedly kicking him in the head.

Jones succumbed to his injuries, with a post-mortem examination confirming that his death resulted from a fractured spine caused by blunt force trauma to the face and neck, along with other head injuries.

The incident occurred at Bashaizon, Deep South Rupununi, Region Nine..