Man who killed girlfriend gets charge reduced to manslaughter, sentenced to 14 years

The St Thomas man who slashed his girlfriend's throat on Boxing Day last year has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after the charge against him was reduced from murder to manslaughter.

Odaine Keyes, 31, faced a sentence of life in prison and would be required to serve a minimum of 15 years for the gruesome murder of 19-year-old  Tashoy Barrett inside the home they shared in Arcadia, St Thomas.

However, according to reports, following a perusal of the social enquiry report during Keyes' sentencing hearing in the St Thomas Home Circuit Court yesterday, the presiding judge indicated that provocation was an issue in Barrett's killing.

Consequently, Keyes was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Barrett's body was found on the floor of her kitchen by friends who became concerned after several calls to her mobile phone went unanswered.

Keyes surrendered to police a week later.