John Chessman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Killing of Chinese Businesmman

John Chessman

Twenty-nine-year-old John Chessman Junior has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a lesser charge from the count of murder which he was read in August 2012 for the shooting death of Chinese businessman Jiantao Yang in Ladyville.  Today, during mitigation plea the disturbing footage, captured on surveillance camera, was replayed in the courtroom of Justice Marilyn Williams.  It aided the trial judge in arriving at a decision as to how many years Chessman will receive for his role in the robbery turned deadly shooting.  After approximately twenty minutes of reviewing the footage, Chessman admitted to killing the proprietor of E-Bay Shop during a robbery on Crab Catcher Street in Ladyville.  His accomplice, Dylan Clark, maintains his innocence and pleaded not guilty to murder.  His case has been adjourned for a later date.  Meanwhile, Justice Williams has reserved sentencing in the case against Chessman to July twenty-second, where she will take into consideration both mitigating and aggravated factors.