A jury retired for more than two hours yesterday before convicting Beverly Scarlett, a vendor of 2A Penwood Road, Kingston 11 and her two adult daughters, of manslaughter arising from the death of Scarlett's former lover.

Justice Kay Beckford remanded them in custody to return to the Home Circuit Court today.

Scarlett also called 'Madge', Chantel Clarke and Shana Sterling were accused of murdering 66-year-old forklift operator and taxi driver Roy Reid.

A most dastardly act

Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn in addressing the jury said the women committed "a most dastardly act" .

They were charged with murder but the jury found them guilty of the lesser offence. The Crown relied on Reid's dying declaration to prove its case against the three women.

The allegations were that Reid and Scarlett were involved in an intimate relationship. It was further alleged that, when Reid went to Scarlett's home on the night of September 4, 2004, he was beaten, acid was thrown on him and he was set ablaze in his motor car. Reid died a few days later in hospital.