Sentencing for businessman Junior France, who has been found guilty of fatally shooting 17-year-old Dane Jerrick on May 17, 2020, has been deferred to April 29.
The 44-year-old France was initially indicted for murder of the teen, but following a trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the Essequibo High Court, the 12-member mixed jury found him guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.
During his trial, France was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels, while Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken had appeared on behalf of the prosecution.
Convicted killer Junior France
It was reported that at about 03:30h on the day in question, at Puruni Landing, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Jerrick was shot in the lower back by the businessman.
The teen’s uncle, George Jerrick, had told Guyana Times that family members were told that his nephew and a driver had had an argument which had quickly escalated into a scuffle, during which Jerrick had attempted to escape the blows, but someone in the crowd had identified him as a thief.
The businessman, who was in close proximity to the scene, had reportedly drawn his weapon and shot Jerrick.
Killed: Dane Jerrick
It was reported that after the shooting, an angry mob had stormed the businessman’s shot and carted off a quantity of goods. The mob had even attempted to burn the building down, but had managed only to scorch a section of the shop.
