BY a majority verdict of 11 to one, a mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes yesterday found Courtney Farley, an alleged wife-killer, not guilty of manslaughter by flight.

Farley was originally charged with the murder of his wife Melanie, who had suffered a fractured spine on January 2, 2010 following an argument between them over an allegation of infidelity – the husband claiming that a man had been secretly phoning his wife; and the wife, in order to taunt him, accepted the claim.
Although the defence no-case submission was rejected by the judge, he nevertheless withdrew the offence of murder from the jury and directed them to consider only manslaughter.
The judge told the jury that their duty was to determine whether the accused was guilty or not guilty of manslaughter.
After deliberating for three hours, the jury returned with the majority verdict.
The freed accused clasped his hands and told the judge, “Thank you,” as he left the dock.
He was represented by Attorney-at-law Mr. Keavan Bess. The prosecution’s case was conducted by Mrs. Teshana Lake and Miss Natasha Backer.
According to the lone eye witness, whose testimony the defence lawyer said was riddled  with inconsistencies, during  the argument that had ensued between Courtney Farley and his wife Melanie, the accused had picked up a cutlass and had attempted to lash his wife with same, but she escaped by opening a door which she closed behind her. The wife was still behind that door when Farley pushed it, causing her to fall off the platform and suffer a fractured spine, which resulted in her death in hospital five days later.
According to the evidence led, the accused, who was the father of two children, was later arrested and charged with murder.