Latest update June 2nd, 2026 12:36 AM
Latest News
- ‘Pay $3.4M more daily or face blackouts’ – Powership company demands
- France eyes deepwater port in Guyana to expand European trade
- Eyebrows raised over $24M water ambulance price tag
- Iran warns Israeli attacks in Lebanon and Gaza threaten U.S. ceasefire talks
- France requests UN Security Council emergency meeting on Lebanon after Israel captures Beaufort Castle
Seafield murder accused pleads guilty to manslaughter
– probation report ordered
Colin Bentick the man who is on trial for murder committed at Seafield, West Coast Berbice, has
Colin Bentick
pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
Bentick, 39 of Number 42 (Seafield) Village, West Coast Berbice appeared before Justice James Bovell- Drakes at the Berbice High Court for the October 31, 2007 murder of Elton Shepherd, a clothes vendor at Seafield, West Coast Berbice.
The case which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday did not get on the way, because the accused did not have a lawyer. However, before the trial began yesterday Attorney at law Mursaleine Bacchus, who appeared for the accused informed the court that the defence would like to take a certain course of action.
The accused then pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
Attorney at law Rondell Weaver prosecuting then presented the State’s case. She stated that on the day in question, Shepherd and a group of persons were sitting underneath an old house playing dominoes at Seafield, West Coast Berbice.
She stated that some time between noon and 13:00 hrs they were approached by Bentick who went up to Shepherd and stated “Shepherd is a dead man”. He then asked Shepherd if he knew anything about his “Data” (his girl), to which Shepherd responded in the negative.
Bentick then left and returned with a cutlass and proceeded to chop Shepherd across his right hand, the other persons ran away. Shepherd allegedly ran for his life but fell in the process and was again attacked by the accused.
Police officers who were passing at the time on their way to Georgetown were informed by residents what was taking place. The police proceeded to the area through a street and saw Bentick chopping at a person lying in the street.
He was instructed to stop, but continued and advanced to the cops with his cutlass. The police then left to get assistance. During this period the man then proceeded to behead Shepherd and held it up in his left hand.
As police reinforcement came Bentick was arrested and taken into custody.
In a caution statement given by the accused, He stated that he was under a house with some individuals when he heard that “Fine man was a batty man”. “I made a slip and went for his cutlass. Fine Man try to run, but I chop him”
“Fine Man fall down and a chop him on his neck. I chop off his neck. I man had to do de Sacrifice.”
A Post Mortem examination performed on the body gave the cause of death as shock and hemorrhage, severance of neck and multiple cuts.
A Probation report was ordered by Justice Bovell Drakes. This is to be presented on Wednesday May 30 when the man is expected to be sentenced.
A Preliminary Inquiry was conducted by then Magistrate Tejnarine Ramroop and a prima facie case was made out.
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.