Manslaughter sentence reserved until July

Kenneth Garcia

Kenneth Garcia was convicted of manslaughter on June sixteenth in the death of his uncle, Sergio Garcia. He had originally been charged with murder but a jury of four men and eight women instead found him guilty of manslaughter. Sentencing was scheduled for this afternoon, but his attorney Dickie Bradley, asked for more time to present arguments in two cases that could have bearing in Garcia’s sentencing. He got the nod from Justice Troadio Gonzalez and Garcia will know his fate in early July at the Belmopan Supreme Court. Earlier today three character witnesses spoke on his behalf asking for leniency saying that Garcia was trustful and dependable and that he had repented and turned to God. The three also said he deserved a second chance and Garcia himself told the court that he was sorry. Bradley asked the court to consider a sentence of not more than eight years citing the case of Shian White, a young mother, who was convicted of manslaughter in the death of her baby girl. White hit her daughter on the head and the child later died at the hospital. The prosecutor, however, said Garcia’s case was not similar to White’s. Garcia claimed that he accidentally hit Sergio on the head when he tried to get rid of a rock in the hands of his uncle on September twenty-second 2006. Sergio died the following day from head injuries.