Alfred Delice has been sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison for the manslaughter of Steve Pablo Francis, an incident that occurred on July 14, 2021, in St. Johnston’s Village.

The fatal confrontation began with a verbal altercation where both men exchanged insults. Initially, Francis confronted Delice with scissors, and Delice responded by stabbing Francis with a screwdriver. A police officer who witnessed the initial confrontation did not disarm the men.

Later that night, around 10 pm, the dispute escalated when Delice stabbed Francis in the head, causing a brain injury. Francis was hospitalized and died on July 21.

Delice initially pleaded not guilty to murder but later admitted to the lesser charge of manslaughter. After the incident, he fled the scene, discarded the screwdriver, and spent the night at a friend’s house before being arrested.

During his trial, Delice’s attorney argued self-defense, describing the deceased as the aggressor. Delice, a fisherman with no prior convictions, apologized to the victim’s family in court, stating he acted out of fright.

Justice Ann Marie Smith initially set a 25-year sentence, which was increased to 26 years due to aggravating factors, including Delice’s attempt to conceal the weapon. However, considering his guilty plea and previous good conduct, the final sentence was reduced to 17.5 years.