ACCUSED Mark Thompson, who by a majority verdict of 11 to 1 was found guilty on the lesser count of murder, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for manslaughter by Justice James Bovell-Drakes on Monday.The 29-year-old accused, who had chopped to death 45-year old Jose Rodrigues De Oliveira on Sunday 7, 2010, had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted that Jose had attacked him causing him to hit out in self-defence.

And his lawyer Peter Hugh had been seeking a not guilty verdict on the ground of provocation and self-defence.

The sentence followed the presentation of a probation report that was requested by defence counsel.

Before passing sentence, the judge noted that a male life expectancy was 65 and by cutting down Jose at 45, robbed him of 20 years.

But the judge apparently taking into account the defence claim of self-defence and the fact that he was not master of his mind, being under the influence of alcohol in the commission of the crime, imposed a small sentence of 15 years.

The prosecution’s case was done by Tamieka Clarke and Tuanna Hardy, while defence counsel Peter Hugh and Latchmi Rahamat took care of the defence.

Mark Thompson, 29, was on trial for the murder of Jose Rodriques De Oliveira.

The killing is said to have occurred at Meladinko, Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River, Essequibo.