A man who was convicted this month of manslaughter, arising from the death of his four-year-old stepson, is to be sentenced next week Friday.

Damion Mallett, 28, apprentice engineer at Shocking Vibes Studio, should have been sentenced yesterday when he appeared in the Home Circuit Court. However, Mrs. Justice Norma McIntosh put off sentencing because she is presiding in a murder case which began on Monday.

Guilty of the lesser offence

Mallett was charged with the murder of Joseph Gordani Gibson but the jury found him guilty of the lesser offence.

Evidence was given at the trial that, on June 20, 2005, the boy's mother left him in Mallett's care at their home at Halls Green district, St. Andrew.

Later that day the child died and it was discovered that his liver and spleen were severely damaged.

One of Mallett's cousins testified that Mallett told her that the child was crying and he punched him in the abdomen.

Mallet denied hitting the child. He said the child fell from a bed and injured himself.