LEVOY LaCruz called “Jagan”, who was on trial for the 2014 fatal stabbing of his drinking buddy Reafeal Orin Danns,was, on Tuesday, acquitted of the crime by a jury.

LaCruz, 29, of Lower Pomeroon River, Region Two, was on trial at the Essequibo High Court before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow for manslaughter.

He had denied that, on September 8, 2014, in the county of Essequibo, he unlawfully killed Danns.

After deliberating for two hours, the 12-member jury found LaCruz not guilty.

The state was represented by prosecutor Tiffini Lyken while attorney-at-law Latchmi Dindayal was on record for the accused.

In his defence, LaCruz claimed that Danns attacked him and he was forced to defend himself.

According to police reports, on the day in question, around 22:00 hours, Danns and LaCruz were imbibing when they got into an argument.

LaCruz allegedly armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Danns to his chest. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Charity Hospital.