19-year-old remanded for murder, gets bail as charge reduced to manslaughter

Naderia James, 19, of Baramita, Region One (Barima-Waini), who was remanded to prison for the murder of her abusive boyfriend, has now been granted bail in the sum of $200,000.
This is according to her attorney, Sanjeev Datadin.
James had been arrested and charged with murder following the death of 20-year-old Kevin Smith, a miner from the same community.
Police reports indicated that the incident occurred on September 18 around 17:00h at a wooden and plastic camp where James and Smith had been living together for about a year.
Investigators stated that James returned home after consuming alcohol and found Smith lying in his hammock. The victim allegedly grabbed a cutlass and struck James on her left shoulder and right hand, which led to an altercation.
During the confrontation, James reportedly pulled a handmade knife from her waist and stabbed Smith in the left side of his chest. Smith then exited the camp and collapsed in a nearby patch of bushes.
Following the incident, James went to the Baramita Police Station and gave a statement.
According to Datadin, he also made representation to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the charge to be reduced to manslaughter.
“…there was sound legal reason for this I felt. I’m pleased the DPP agreed,” the lawyer noted in a social media post.
“It’s not over as we still have a PI [for] manslaughter to get done. That will take place in the coming weeks. I’m making every effort to get this teenage girl back to her family as quickly as possible,” he added.