Leanne Davis Found Guilty of Manslaughter for 2021 Stabbing Incident

Twenty-eight-year-old Leanne Davis was spared a conviction for murder in the Belize High Court today and was instead found guilty of manslaughter. Davis was charged with the 2021 stabbing of her boyfriend’s sister, Venecia Staine. Justice Candace Nanton ruled that there was extreme provocation in the fatal incident, which led to the manslaughter verdict. Justice Nanton ordered several reports including a victim impact statement and psychiatric evaluation, which will be considered for sentencing. Davis’ sentencing has been set for July 29. At the trial, the crown’s main witness was Staine’s niece who was 15 at the time of the incident. The witness testified that the stabbing happened on April 4, 2021, at her aunt’s house in Gracie Rock Village, Belize District. The witness said that Staine had been walking around with her cell phone trying to improve the signal, when she accidentally bumped into Davis. That interaction sparked an argument that later led to Davis stabbing Staine six times. The witness broke down and cried on the stand when recalling the event, and had to leave momentarily to compose herself. The doctor who performed the autopsy said that one of the stab wounds punctured Staine’s lung, killing her.