Vincent “Steeno” Tillett, Guilty of Manslaughter

Vincent “Steeno” Tillett

Eighteen days ago, a trial by judge without jury in the murder case of forty-nine-year-old Vincent “Steeno” Tillett concluded before Justice Adolph Lucas, who paused to decide the fate of the accused.  Today, more than two weeks later, Justice Lucas made his announcement, informing Tillett that he was guilty of manslaughter in the stabbing death of twenty-three-year-old Darwin Phillips.  Phillips, who was part of a love triangle which included Tillett’s girlfriend, was stabbed once to the chest.  The incident occurred on February thirteenth, 2011 at a home the accused occupied with his common-law wife.  During the trial, Prosecutor, Kaysha Grant called several witnesses to testify, including Denise Stuart and Oran Young.  However, both witnesses chose to give evidence contrary to their 2011 statements, forcing her to treat them both as hostile witnesses.  At the end of their testimonies, their initial statements were tendered in as evidence.  Allegations are that on that fateful day, Tillett grabbed a knife from the kitchen of their home and stabbed Phillips once to the chest.  In his defense, Tillett told the court that he was nowhere in Belize City and that he was all the way in Sand hill at the time of the alleged murder.  Justice Lucas has deferred sentencing of Tillett until Tuesday, November twenty-sixth, 2013.  Tillett was represented by Attorney, Arthur Saldivar.