Charged with murder, Palacio pleads guilty to manslaughter

A man accused of murder has pled guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. According to court reports, shortly after a jury was empanelled to hear the case against Alexander Palacio, attorney for the accused, Hubert Elrington informed prosecutor Tracy Sosa that the defence would plead guilty to manslaughter. Sosa accepted the plea and Justice Troadio Gonzalez will hear mitigation statements on Friday before handing down his sentence. Palacio was arrested in May 2005 following a fight on Caesar Ridge Road that left Wasani Belgrave suffering from a fatal knife wound to the chest. The incident was witnessed by an off-duty police officer who placed Palacio in handcuffs but the suspect took off when the cop went to the victim’s aid. The accused was later apprehended at an Iguana Street home and charged with murder.