Herman George, 21, was yesterday sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for the 2012 unlawful killing of his aunt’s husband, Michael Williams.
George was initially indicted for murder, to which he pleaded not guilty. The young man, however, pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
He admitted that on March 29, 2012 at Port Kaituma, Essequibo, he unlawfully killed Williams, called “Smokey.”
Before accepting his plea, Justice Navindra Singh, who presided over the matter, enquired from George, whether anyone had coerced him to plead to the charge, to which he said no.
He told the judge when asked, that he was aware of his right to a trial, and had discussed his decision with his attorney.
In mitigation, defence attorney Mark Conway, asked the court to consider that his client was merely 16 years old when he committed the crime.
According to counsel, George was not brought up in the most fortunate of circumstances, adding that he dropped out of school at age 14 to seek employment in the mining industry.
The lawyer said that the young man, who is currently suffering from tuberculosis, was remorseful for his actions.
Prosecutor Tamieka Clarke, said that on the day in question, George chopped his aunt’s husband with a cutlass, when the man enquired from him, why at a young age, he was in the interior working.
Clarke asked the court to impose a sentence commensurate with the convict’s action.
When asked whether he wanted to say anything, George, speaking under a respirator covering his mouth, answered in the negative.
Justice Singh imposed the 11-year sentence, ordering that time spent on remand, be deducted.
The case was heard at the High Court in Georgetown.
