He claimed it was self-defense, but this afternoon a jury told 35 year old Edward Reyes that is no excuse for killing Norman "Butta" Ferguson. The jury of 8 men and 1 woman found the butcher guilty of manslaughter for shooting and killing "Butta" Ferguson inside Prime Cut Meats on January 22 of 2005. Reyes was defended by a team of three attorneys led by Senior Counsel Ellis Arnold along with Michel Chebat and Lutchman Sooknandan. Crown counsel Kamar Henry took on the three attorneys and argued that Reyes took out his licensed 9 millimeter handgun and shot Ferguson, killing him for no justifiable reason.

Reyes' team argued that it was in self-defense. He said that "Butta" entered his shop on Central American Boulevard that morning demanding money. He says Ferguson advanced towards him in a threatening manner and a struggle followed. He later mentioned that "Butta" was armed with a machete and that his gun accidentally went off during the struggle. Medical evidence presented in court confirmed that "Butta" was high on cocaine when he was killed. Reyes gave an unsworn statement from the dock in which he said he never meant to kill "Butta."

The jury deliberated for three hours before it produced the guilty verdict. Reyes could face life in prison and he will be sentenced on March 17th, next week Friday.