Man charged for 2019 murder/rape walks on rape charge; pleads guilty to manslaughter

By BBN Staff: This week, Giovanni Jones, who was charged with the 2019 murder of Howard Coleman, and the rape of a 26-year-old woman in the same incident, was set free from the rape charge and pled guilty to a lesser offense in Coleman’s death.

Jones, on the advice of his attorney, pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to provocation on Wednesday, while the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi with respect to the rape, informing the court that it was abandoning that charge against Jones.

Justice Ricardo O’Neil Sandcroft has set Jones’s sentencing hearing for July 22.

The alleged rape victim reported to police that she had attended a New Year’s Party in Lucky Strike Village and following the party, Jones gave her a ride to Coleman’s home. She claims the three of them were in a bedroom together, on separate beds when an argument ensued and Jones pulled a machete and chopped Coleman nine times to the body, killing him on the spot.

The woman further told police that after Jones committed the murder, he forced himself on her and raped her then concocted a story that she was to tell the police. However, upon questioning, she told police that it was, in fact, Jones that killed Coleman and was forcing her to lie about it.

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