Acquitted of murder; jury hung on manslaughter

A man on trial for murder was this afternoon remanded to prison after he was acquitted of that charge and the twelve member jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the alternative charge of manslaughter. Julio Che of Ladyville was on trial for the stabbing death of Alberto Jaime Serano, who was killed on October twenty-ninth, 2006 in that village. The case went to the jury after eleven this morning and when they returned before two, the jury said they had reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty on the murder charge. However, they could not agree on a verdict on the manslaughter charge. Trial Judge Adolph Lucas asked them to reconsider and when they came back out around three-thirty, they were still undecided, failing to reach a majority of 11 to 1 or 10 to 2 which would have been sufficient for a conviction. Although Che was found not guilty of murder Justice Lucas remanded him back into custody until the D.P.P. decides what new charge he will lay against him. When that is done, Che can then apply for bail. His new trial will most likely be during the next session commencing in January. The deceased, Alberto Jaime Serano, was found stabbed in the chest on the roadside at mile ten on the Northern Highway. He later died while undergoing treatment. Che was defended by Attorney Antoinette Moore while prosecutor was Crown Counsel Tracey Sosa.