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Festival City Beautician murder… Husband found guilty of manslaughter
Murder accused Charles Anthony Woolford, was yesterday found guilty of the unlawful killing of his
Guilty: Charles Anthony Woolford
hairdresser wife, Latoya Conway Woolford, by a mixed twelve member jury before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the High Court in Georgetown.
Woolford is said to have fatally stabbed his wife on February 8, 2009 at her Lot 2041, Hummingbird Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt home, allegedly during a heated argument.
The beautician and mother of three, is said to have had her stomach sliced open during the ordeal. She succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) while receiving treatment.
The accused, who was a self-employed construction worker at the time, tried to end his life by ingesting what was believed to be a poisonous liquid a few hours after learning of his wife’s demise. He was hospitalized but was later released to face the murder charge. This was his second retrial for murder.
During the trial, State Prosecutors Mercedes Thompson and Michael Shahoud called on a number of witnesses, including the victim’s daughter Marciana Conway who said she witnessed the stabbing and the dead woman‘s cousin Talia Rayside, to testify.
After four long hours of deliberation, a mixed twelve member jury announced yesterday, that they had not found the accused guilty of the offence for which he stands indicted (murder); rather, he was found guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter.
The panel had initially retired to deliberate at around 12:30 hours, but returned to Justice Brassington’s courtroom for further directions.
Members of the panel related that they had further questions based on portions of the evidence presented in the trial.
The panel also asked for clarity on whether the victim’s cousin, Talia Rayside had admitted to the court that she knew that her cousin (Latoya Woolford) had been friends with a guy named “Andy,” prior to the incident.
This was based on a suggestion made by Defense Counsel, Peter Hugh.
One juror also inquired as to the reason why only one of the victim’s children (a teenage daughter) was allowed to testify, when all three are said to have witnessed the crime. The judge explained that at the time that the matter was brought to court, the victim’s other children would have been only 9 and 3 years old.
Based on his records, Justice Reynolds then reminded the panel of the evidence provided by Rayside. He told the jury that Rayside had categorically stated “no,” in response to Defense Counsel’s question about “Andy.”
However, Jurors also noted that they were curious about the motive for the murder. The Judge then explained that in Guyana, motive is not a requirement for the prosecution to prove their case.
The panel retired a second time but when they returned to the courtroom, they still had not made a collective decision on the outcome of the case.
The foreman had initially announced that they had found Charles Anthony Woolford not guilty of murder and not guilty of manslaughter. Their response was greeted with sighs of relief from the accused, who was standing in the dock, as well as from members of the courtroom audience.
When murmurs began emanating from the other members on the panel, the Foreman then stated that he did not understand the question put to him by the Court Registrar.
Based on inquiries from the Judge, the Foreman told the court that the verdict for murder was unanimous but the decision was not proportionate (11 not guilty and one guilty) in regard to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
The Judge once more briefed the Jury before allowing them to retire a third time to deliberate. By this time 4 hours had expired. When the panel returned to the courtroom, they announced that the verdict was not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Given the outcome, Justice Reynolds ordered that a probation report be prepared on the life of the accused. He adjourned the case to 9:30 hrs on June 30.
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