NASSAU – A bully who drove for miles to stab a man has been jailed for 20 years for manslaughter.
Witnesses told how Marvin Edgecombe, 47, picked a fight with David Hanna at a restaurant and bar in Spring Point, Acklins on June 3, 2017.
Hanna, a fisherman, had come there to sell his catch.
Edgecombe, who was in the bar, walked over and disrupted Hanna and his customer as they haggled over the price of the fish.
Justifiably, Hanna asked Edgecombe to leave him alone. Edgecombe hit Hanna in the chest and returned to his seat.
A short time later, Edgecombe bothered Hanna again—this time slapping his face.
In response, Hanna picked up a 40-ounce gin bottle and hit Edgecombe over the head.
Hanna left the bar afterwards. Edgecombe left about 10 minutes later.
The Court heard he drove for miles in search of Hanna to continue the fight.
Eventually, he found Hanna’s SUV parked outside a home-based restaurant.
He reportedly shouted, “Y’all better let David out this house”, before he tried to force his way inside.
Unable to get in, Edgecombe waited until Hanna left the residence. He stabbed Hanna before he got into his vehicle.
Hanna was treated at the island’s clinic. The doctor didn’t consider his injuries serious and released him.
Hanna died at home. A subsequent autopsy determined the stab wounds caused his death.
Edgecombe was tried for murder. However, the nine-member jury acquitted him of the charge and convicted him of manslaughter by provocation on September 15, 2021.
Edgecombe, who was on bail pending trial, was remanded to prison until sentencing.
Before she passed the sentence on December 7, Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson said, “I found this offence abhorrent, and the only way I can express that is in the sentence I pass. I seek to protect society from this type of behaviour.”
The sentence takes effect from the date of conviction.
Cephia Pinder-Moss prosecuted and Murrio Ducille defended Edgecombe.
