Two men accused of murdering two women, one in 2006 and the other in 2007, yesterday had their pleas of guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter accepted by different judges at the Demerara Assizes. Both men will be sentenced next month.
In Justice Roxane George’s court, Dennis Wharton accused of the murder of June Osborne, pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Wharton, who was represented by attorney Sonia Parag is expected to return to court for sentencing on February 7, when a probation report will be presented on his behalf.
Prosecutors Rhondel Weever and Natasha Backer represented the state. It had been alleged that Wharton murdered Osborne in November 2006, at her East La Penitence, Squatting Area home.
According to reports, the woman, who was found with one of her arms severed was killed during the commission of a robbery.
Meanwhile, in Justice Navindra Singh’s court, ex-policeman Kevin Waterman also pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Waterman will return to court on February 11 for sentencing. He was represented by attorney George Thomas while the prosecution was represented by Konyo Thompson and Dhanika Singh.
Waterman allegedly murdered policewoman Eleanor Jones on July 7, 2007 at her Silvertown, Linden home. Jones was attached to the Mackenzie police station.
Waterman and Jones had been involved in a relationship and he had gone to the home on the day in question. During a conversation, an argument developed between them after he accused her of infidelity.
He then pulled out a firearm from his waist, and Jones initially struggled with him and then tried to run away. He discharged several rounds at her, hitting her about the body. She died while receiving emergency treatment at the Mackenzie Hospital.
Waterman was held after a stand-off at the Wisroc Outpost. He had hidden in the compound and threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to detain him but the police officer in charge later managed to persuade him to surrender. He was then taken into custody.
