Accused denies killing Forbes

(CNS): Lorenzo Wright pleaded not guilty on Friday to the manslaughter of Jack Forbes at a shopping plaza in Bodden Town last year. Wright is one of two men charged with the killing of the 49-year-old Bodden Town man, who was reportedly beaten to death in October. Steve Brown, who was also originally charged with murder for the killing has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but Wright is now set to face trial in July. Forbes’ body was discovered by paramedics at the Plazza Odessa at around 6:20 in the evening of Friday 1 October. The victim had sustained numerous injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Forbes had been released from Northward prison shortly before he was killed after serving some ten years on a manslaughter charge for the killing of Steve Watler in May 2000.

Witnesses at the time reported that Forbes appeared to have been the victim of a systematic attack by several people.

Police arrested four people in the wake of the incident but eventually charged just two men, Wright (20) and Brown (35). Following the reduction of the charges from murder to manslaughter, Brown pleaded guilty and will face sentencing later this year. However, although the charges against Wright were also reduced to manslaughter from murder, Wright has denied the killing and opted to face trial.

Following his plea today, Wright was bailed to return to court for trial on 18 July.