Two miners are now awaiting sentencing for the stabbing deaths of two men in separate incidents in Essequibo back in 2019.
Paul Charles and Clinton Allen both appeared virtually before Justice Gino Persaud on Tuesday at the High Court at Suddie where they pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter.
They had each been originally indicted on charges of murder, but threw themselves at the mercy of the court, pleading instead to the lesser offence.
In his case, miner Charles admitted to unlawfully killing Cedric James on February 7th, 2019 at Falmouth Village, Essequibo River.
Meanwhile, in the other case, Allen, also a miner, admitted that between May 30th and May 31st, 2019, at Kamarang Landing, Mazaruni, Essequibo, he murdered Godrell Joseph.
In both instances, the deceased had been stabbed—James, once to his neck during an altercation; and Joseph to his neck as well and to his head with a broken beer bottle.
The sentences for the two offenders have been deferred to facilitate the presentation of probation reports.
Charles is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23rd, and Allen the next day.
In the matter against Allen, the prosecution’s case is that on the day in question, he and Joseph were consuming alcohol at a bar in Kamarang after which Allen left the bar and waited outside to again confront Joseph after an initial altercation.
The facts are that an argument ensued between the two men after Joseph left the bar and was confronted by Allen. As a result, Allen broke a Corona beer bottle and stabbed Joseph in his neck and head.
His body was discovered on the roadway a little over a week later.
It had been previously reported that the killing was a result of a fight between the two men which had occurred two years earlier.
