Eustace Abrams now awaits sentencing after being convicted yesterday for the 2016 unlawful killing of 40-year-old miner Orlando LaCruz formerly of the Pomeroon River.
Following hours of deliberations, a jury return-ed with a unanimous verdict, acquitting Abrams of the capital indictment, but finding him guilty in a proportion of 10-2 on the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Justice Brassington Reynolds has, however, deferred sentencing to April 26th to facilitate a probation report.
LaCruz was killed at a camp in Jack and Vieira Backdam, North West District.
Following the jury’s verdict yesterday afternoon, Abrams said he was sorry for the time he has so far been in jail and begged the judge to have mercy on him citing his minor children.
Initial police investigations had revealed that the victim and others were imbibing inside the camp, when an argument erupted over the refusal by the now dead man to perform oral sex on another who was armed with a shotgun.
Police had said that as a result, the armed suspect loaded the firearm with a cartridge which was given to him by the other suspect and he shot the victim in the right side of his neck, resulting in his death.
Abrams was represented by defence attorney Rachael Bakker.
The state’s case was presented by Prosecutor Tyra Bakker.
