Alberto Rosa De La Rosa guilty of manslaughter
The decision came today October 16, 2015 in the High Court of the Virgin Islands. De La Rosa is to return to court for sentencing hearing on November 27, 2015 when the Crown will submit a victim impact report. Attorney at Law Patrick Thompson has also requested that a prison impact report be submitted on behalf of his client.
The decision was handed down after days of trial where the crown represented by Senior Crown Counsels Valston Graham and Leslie Ann Faulkner called a number of witnesses, some police officers and other persons who were on the scene of the night of November 16, 2012 when Riky Bautista Familia aka Macoticea had his life cut short with a single stab wound to the chest.
The incident took place at a Bar popularly known as Maria's Bar in Sea Cow's Bay.
During the course of the trial several witnesses testified to having seen a fight between the two which was started by the now deceased man. The court heard of an exchange of words between the two where De La Rosa, during a heated exchange brandished a knife at Familia, who in return dared him to use it.
Familia who was made out to be the aggressor, according to witnesses had grabbed a bottle and pelted it at De La Rosa. Another testified to having seen the accused 'juk' Familia while another told the court of seeing the accused with lots of blood about his face and hand while with a knife in his hand.
The owner of the bar testified to having given De La Rosa a complimentary shot of Brugal rum that night. She told the court of hearing a big squall in her bar as she was in the music cabin changing the music. She recalled that in the heat of everything she attempted to call the police but ended up calling 119 instead of 911. She also recalled ordering the doors of the bar shut when most persons had run out but remembered De La Rosa breaking open the front door and re-entering the bar.
Many photographic exhibits also formed part of the trial and it was during the testimony of Police Officer Washington two knives were exhibited as having been found on the scene, one with a handle and the other without.
De La Rosa had made his first appearance in the Magistrates’ Court of the Virgin Islands on July 11, 2014 before Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo following his extradition from the United States.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
13 Responses to “Alberto Rosa De La Rosa guilty of manslaughter”
The BVI should have an agreement with these places regarding their human exports unless we opt to do what is in our best interes and close our shores or impose a moratorium on some countries.