Almost exactly two years ago On Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 the killing of 26 year old Leslie Gentle, Jr. was headlined as a vicious stabbing death. His alleged killer, 25 year old Robert Taylor is said to have boasted to Gentle's father that he was the one that killed his son. Evidence produced in court showed that Gentle was stabbed ten times that Wednesday afternoon, and left to die on a Cemetery Road sidewalk.
Today, two years later, the case to decide the fate of Gentle's killer finally came to a close, and Jim McFadzean was there for the jury's decision.
Jim McFadzean, Reporting
"On Thursday, July 31st, 2008, a day after his son was stabbed to death, Leslie Gentle, Sr. vowed that if the Justice system allowed his son's killer to walk free, he would deliver his own justice"
Leslie Gentle, Sr. - July 31, 2008
"I want to take revenge. They don't want to hang so we have to revenge these people killing other people. That is all about it. If this guy goes to jail and comes out, I will kill him"
But, there'll be no need for that type of vigilante justice, because just a few minutes ago, the verdict came in on Robert Taylor, the man convicted of killing Leslie Gentle, Jr.
Leslie Gentle Sr. was not in court today to hear the verdict delivered by a jury of eight women and four men. But the parents of Taylor appeared in Justice Adolph Lucas's number three court to hear the fate of their 27 year old son. And they said they were satisfied with the outcome of the trial, saying the stabbing was a tragic incident between friends that was fuelled, they believe, by alcohol.
Wayne Savery, Step Father of Robert Taylor
"They were friends. Leslie Gentle Jr., deceased and Robert Taylor was friends and the said day he died they were drinking. He went to look for Robert Taylor to drink. From the morning he drank a whole quart of liquor."
Jim McFadzean
"Alcohol played a role in the stabbing?"
Merdis Ramsey, Mother of Robert Taylor
"Yeah, I say a great possibility, no intent to kill anybody."
Jim McFadzean
"Have you had a chance to speal with your son and is he feeling any remorse for what he did?"
Merdis Ramsey
"Sometimes he doesn't talk. He has this temperament, he doesn't always talk. Sometimes he kind of get lost. He doesn't always talk and sometimes you have to pry him."
Taylor was defended by Attorneys Philip Palacio and Arthur Saldivar.
Reporting for Seven News, I'm Jim McFadzean.
Taylor will be sentenced a week from today. The possible term for manslaughter ranges between 15 and 25 years. He has been on remand since 2008.
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