That's the decision that the jury emerged and delivered after deliberating for just over 3 hours.

He was tried for murder, where the Crown Counsel called 11 witnesses to testify against him. The case started back in October before Justice Herbert Lord in the Orange Walk Supreme Court. The prosecution presented evidence before the jury that on July 26, 2010, Mencias stabbed and killed Phillip Moses Hall inside the accused's apartment in Carolina Village, Corozal.

After the prosecution closed its case, Mencias, who was represented by attorney Michelle Trapp Zuniga, gave sworn testimony in his defence. He told the court that he was in his apartment, and he had just finished taking a bath. He said that he heard his door slam, and when he inquired who it was, no one answered. He said that he heard his lights go on and off 3 different times, and on the third time, he heard a man laughing. He said that he heard this laughter coming closer and closer, and that's when he grabbed a knife in fear of his life. He said that this unknown home invader grabbed him by the throat, and that's when he broke free and stabbed the man 14 times.

After deliberating, the jury returned and unanimously agreed that he was not guilty of murder, but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.