Shane Jones sentenced to over 15 years for brutal manslaughter

Published by [email protected] at February 9, 2025

Posted: Sunday, February 9, 2025. 7:03 am CST.

By Horace Palacio: Shane Jones, 36, a resident of Conch Shell Bay, has been sentenced to 15 years, 4 months, and 20 days in prison for the 2019 beating death of Edwin Usher, 49. The ruling was delivered by Justice Nigel Pilgrim, who described the violent attack as barbaric.

Jones, who was initially charged with murder, was later convicted of manslaughter. The fatal incident occurred on November 23, 2019, on Vernon Street, where Jones and Usher got into an altercation. Surveillance footage showed Jones repeatedly punching and stomping Usher’s head, even after he was incapacitated. Usher succumbed to severe brain injuries at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) on November 30, 2019.

During sentencing, Justice Pilgrim started at 16 years, then added 2 years due to the aggravating factors, including the public nature of the attack and the excessive violence shown in the video. However, he deducted one year, acknowledging that Jones had taken some steps toward accountability and behavioral change. An additional 1 year, 7 months, and 10 days were subtracted for time already served, leading to the final sentence.

Jones’ defense claimed he was acting in self-defense after an argument over money. However, video evidence disproved his claim. He was represented by attorney Norman Moore, while the prosecution was led by Crown Counsel Glenfield Dennison. The sentence takes effect from December 19, 2024, the date of his conviction.

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