THIRTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Aquiella Abrams has been acquitted of manslaughter in the death of her reputed husband, Michael Wilson, after the High Court accepted that she acted in self-defence.

The ruling was delivered recently by Justice Priscilla Chandra-Hanif at the Demerara High Court, who upheld a no-case submission from Abrams’ defence team, attorneys-at-law Yuborn Allicock and Shauntelle Wright. The judge instructed the jury to return a formal not-guilty verdict, bringing the nearly three-year legal battle to a close.
Abrams was first charged with the capital offence of murder in October 2022 and remanded following her appearance before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore. In March 2023, the charge was reduced to manslaughter, after which she was granted $500,000 bail.

During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Abrams fatally stabbed Wilson, 40, on October 10, 2022, at their Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, home.
Wilson had sustained two stab wounds to the abdomen and later died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
The court heard that Abrams and Wilson shared a troubled relationship, marked by frequent arguments and reports of infidelity. Police records also documented instances where quarrels escalated into violence, with Abrams repeatedly identified as the victim of abuse.

On the day of the fatal incident, Abrams reportedly told Wilson she intended to leave the relationship and began preparing to move out of their home.
According to investigators, an argument broke out during which Wilson armed himself with a knife and injured Abrams on her forearm. In the ensuing struggle, Abrams wrestled the weapon away and stabbed Wilson twice in the heat of the confrontation.

Her defence team argued that the State had failed to establish a case against her, noting that the evidence supported her claim of self-defence. Justice Chandra-Hanif agreed, ruling that the prosecution had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Abrams acted unlawfully.
With that, the jury was directed to acquit her, formally ending the case.