Uroy Joseph has been found guilty of being an accessory after the fact to murder in the 2021 killing of Arthur James, whose burned remains were discovered in Freetown.

A High Court jury returned the verdict Tuesday after deliberating following Justice Ann Marie Smith’s summation of the case.

Joseph was accused of helping those responsible for James’ death rather than carrying out the killing himself.

During the trial, Joseph maintained that he acted under threat from his cousins, Zamir and Obasic Ogarro. He said he returned home on the day of the killing to find James tied up and the two men armed.

Joseph said he later witnessed Zamir strike James in the head with a pipe. He admitted helping to place James, who had been wrapped in a sheet, into a vehicle but said Zamir threatened him with the same fate if he refused.

He also told the court that he later cooperated with police and provided investigators with information about what he had witnessed.

The jury rejected Joseph’s defence and convicted him.

Joseph was initially charged alongside Zamir and Obasic, but both men died before the case reached trial. Prosecutors alleged Zamir was the main perpetrator in James’ killing.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Uroy Joseph Found Guilty of Being Accessory After Arthur James Murder.