Christmas Day stabbing: Woman sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter

After years of legal proceedings and a retrial due to juror tampering allegations, 28-year-old Shaleza Ellis has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Latoya Haywood on Christmas morning in 2019. The sentence was handed down at the High Court in Georgetown by Justice Damone Younge on Monday, marking the end of a case that captured public attention.
The deadly altercation occurred at a family party at the intersection of Leopold and Breda Streets, Georgetown, where Haywood, 31, was socialising with relatives. Ellis, who was also at the gathering, reportedly became enraged when Haywood spoke to her boyfriend, Alfie Garraway, the father of Haywood’s cousin’s child. Witnesses stated that Ellis retrieved a knife, but an attempt was made to prevent her from attacking. However, as the vehicle she was in began to move, Ellis allegedly stabbed Haywood once in the chest.
Haywood was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where she remained in a coma for nearly a month before succumbing to her injuries on January 23, 2020. A CT scan revealed that she was brain dead.
Ellis was initially reported to be on the run before she turned herself in to authorities on January 28, 2020. She was later charged with murder and remanded to prison following her first court appearance.

The trial, which began in February, featured two video recordings of the incident and eyewitness testimonies. Closing arguments concluded on February 13, but shortly after, a juror informed the court that Ellis’ relatives had approached him twice outside the courtroom. Due to this interference, Justice Young ruled that a retrial was necessary to maintain the integrity of the proceedings.
Ellis eventually pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. During sentencing, the court considered several factors, including the nature of the crime, Ellis’ background, and her behaviour while incarcerated.
According to the probation report, Ellis grew up in a structured household with both parents actively involved in providing for their children. She dropped out of secondary school at the age of 15 to assist her mother with domestic duties. Before her incarceration, she was unemployed and living with her parents in Georgetown.
During her time in prison, Ellis participated in several rehabilitation programmes, including anger management, yoga, computer science, substance abuse recovery, and sewing. Prison officials described her as disciplined, cooperative, and remorseful. However, her record included two infractions, one for possessing a cellular phone and another for having cigars in her possession.
In a statement included in the pre-sentence report, Ellis expressed deep remorse for her actions. She claimed that the altercation escalated after Haywood threw alcohol in her face and followed her, leading to a physical confrontation. Ellis admitted to stabbing Haywood but stated that she never intended to take a life.
The court sentenced Ellis to 14 years in prison, acknowledging both the aggravating and mitigating factors. The victim’s family, while relieved that justice was served, expressed their grief over the loss of Haywood, describing her death as a devastating blow to their family.
The state was represented by Muntaz Ali, from the Office of the Director of Prosecution, while Attorney Candace Adams represented Shaleza Ellis.