Dangriga murder conviction also stands

In court news, the Court of Appeal has also upheld the death sentence of Norman Shaw who was convicted of the murder of Fitzgerald Mantock and Rudolph Bermudez in Dangriga in July, 1996 during a drug deal. Shaw had maintained that he had acted in self-defense when he shot Mantock but evidence presented in court from a witness was that Shaw wrestled the gun away from Mantock and then shot him. The witness had also testified that Shaw opened the door to the vehicle and shot its occupant Rudolph Bermudez and threatened to shoot a third man. The appeal was based on the claim that the trial judge failed to allow the jury to consider self-defense or provocation. The Court of Appeal ruled that based on the evidence that Mantock was unarmed, Shaw could not claim self defense and that provocation was not an issue since the defendant had claimed the gun went off accidentally shooting Mantock.