Justice Simone Morris Ramlall yesterday vacated Abdul Mc Lennan’s guilty plea to manslaughter after he told the court before sentencing yesterday that he was first attacked by Leslie Fraser, a handyman/security guard, who he is accused of cuffing, causing him to fall and hit his head in 2017 at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne.
Mc Lennan had been originally indicted for murder, but at his arraignment last month he denied the capital charge when it was read to him and pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
He is accused of killing Fraser on December 4th of 2017.
However, when he appeared before Justice Ramlall for sentencing yesterday an emotional Mc Lennan told the court that on the night in question he was heading home when the Fraser first approached him and accused him of stealing his bicycle.
“He (victim) cross over the road and start chuck me in my head and ask me where the bicycle I just carry through the street and I seh big boy me ain’t know wah you talking about.”
While breaking into tears, Mc Lennan, a father of two, said that he crossed back the road and Fraser followed him where he (Fraser) “start cuff me in my head.”
He said that Fraser had an object in his waist and even confessed to the court yesterday that he (Mc Lennan) was told to lie that it was a knife in his statement to the probation officer, “I don’t know if is a knife or gun or what but I know he is a violent person.”
As the argument continued, he said the man continued to attack him after which he (Mc Lennan) then cuffed him causing him to fall and hit his head.
After listening to Mc Lennan, Justice Ramlall said, “I cannot proceed with your plea. I have obligations and based on your explanation I cannot proceed to sentence you”, Justice Ramlall told the court.
Mc Lennan will now have to return to court on another date where he will face a trial.
The State’s case is that Mc Lennan had been imbibing at midnight and was walking in the direction of Rose Hall, Berbice, when he saw the now-deceased.
At his arraignment last month, the court heard that Fraser had accused Mc Lennan of stealing his bicycle.
The accusation, the court further heard, angered Mc Lennan, who then cuffed the handyman in his head, causing him to fall and hit his head.
Attorney at Law, Muntaz Ali in presenting the state’s case had said that the injured Fraser was rushed to the hospital where he died five days later from the very injuries he had sustained to his head at the hands of Mc Lennan.
The accused is being represented by defence attorney Moti Singh.
