Patrick Smith Felix is now awaiting sentencing for the part he played in the February 2020 killing of Cuban butcher—Ofredis Duarte Campos—who was at the time making his way to work at the Rossignol Butchery.
Smith had been originally indicted for murder.
At his arraignment before the High Court on Tuesday, however, the accused pleaded to the lesser charge of mansluaghter.
He denied the charge for the capital offence when it was read to him, but accepted the lesser offence which stated that he unlawfully killed Campos on the morning of Thursday, February 9th, 2020.
Justice Simone Morris-Ramall has deferred sentencing to January 31st to faciliate the presentation of probation and other social impact reports.
Felix is being represented by defence attorney Tariq Mohamed; while the state is being represented by prosecutor Praneta Seeraj.
Background
Campos, formerly of 321 East Street, Georgetown, was on his way to work at the Rossignol Butchery on Church Street on the day in question, when at around 6:44 am he was shot three times about his body.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).
The police had said that Campos was confronted by two men after he left his home around 6.30 am.
“…Whilst on the western parapet proceeding south on Cummings Street between Middle and Quamina Streets, he was confronted by [two] suspects on a red and white XR motorcycle which came from the opposite direction. During the confrontation the pillion rider discharged three rounds…. after which they fled the scene,” a police release stated.
Anisley Diaz Hernandez, the dead man’s wife, had told Stabroek News that he worked at the Rossignol Butchery in Suriname for four years before they moved here two years ago and he began working at the company’s branch on Church Street.
His uncle had said that at the time of his death Campos was carrying a haversack in which he had a work t-shirt and a support belt he wore at work to prevent back injuries. He also had his phone in his pocket.
Nothing was stolen from him.
Residents had told Stabroek News that they believed the men who killed Campos intended to rob him. They had said that that when confronted by the men, Campos refused to give up his bag which led to him being shot.
