Bernard Ballentine, a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier, was yesterday convicted of the August 2010 murder of Northern Caribbean University student Shannel Norris.

The 12-member jury retired for 55 minutes before returning the guilty verdict at the Manchester Circuit Court.

The court heard that on August 11, 2010, Ballentine and Norris were travelling in his vehicle along Hart Road in Mandeville when an argument developed.

During the argument, a knife was used to slash the woman's throat killing her on the spot.