Fabian Abraham, a 24-year-old resident of Kanuku Drive, Lethem, Region Nine, has been sentenced to six years in prison for the fatal beating of 48-year-old farmer Leroy Ault.
The incident occurred during a heated altercation on March 25, 2020, and the sentence was handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Demerara on November 15 2024.
Initially indicted for murder, Abraham pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, admitting to striking Ault in the head with a piece of iron during a melee. Ault, a farmer from Moco Moco Village, Central Rupununi, succumbed to his injuries at the Lethem Regional Hospital. At the time of the attack, Abraham was just 19 years old.
State Counsel Delon Fraser described the attack as brutal and unprovoked, emphasizing that Ault was unarmed and posed no threat to his attacker. Fraser pointed out that Abraham fled the scene, leaving Ault gravely injured. He highlighted the profound impact of Ault’s death on his family, including his six children, and the community. Ault’s cause of death was confirmed as cerebral haemorrhage due to blunt force trauma to the head.
Defence attorney Jerome Khan pleaded for leniency, urging the court to consider Abraham’s youth, remorse, and cooperation with authorities. He noted that Abraham had shown genuine regret and had opted to plead guilty early, sparing the victim’s family a prolonged trial. Khan also highlighted that Ault’s family had requested that Abraham not be imprisoned, and shared that before his incarceration, Abraham was gainfully employed in his family’s food business and as a mechanic.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Kissoon underscored the prevalence of alcohol-related crimes in hinterland communities, which he described as a growing concern. He acknowledged the mitigating factors in Abraham’s favour, including his lack of a criminal record, absence of premeditation, and evidence of provocation. However, the judge emphasized the need for a custodial sentence to reflect the seriousness of the crime.
Justice Kissoon set an initial sentence of 10 years but applied a one-third reduction for Abraham’s early guilty plea, along with additional deductions for mitigating factors, bringing the final sentence to six years. Abraham was also credited for time served on remand.
The judge directed that Abraham participate in educational and rehabilitation programmes during his incarceration, with a focus on addressing alcohol abuse. Justice Kissoon expressed hope that these initiatives would help the young offender reintegrate into society upon his release.
