Latest update September 13th, 2026 10:36 AM
Man sentenced to 15 years for minibus driver’s death
Thirty-seven year old Sherwin Anthony- Hyles was yesterday sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for the unlawful killing of an East Bank Demerara (EBD) minibus driver.
Justice Dawn Gregory handed down the sentence after a probation report was presented to the court.
Hyles, of Lot 37 Harry Avenue, Friendship, East Bank Demerara, was indicted for the May 1, 2008 murder of Joel Savory, a minibus driver. He pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he appeared before Justice Gregory on June 19 last.
The accused was represented by Attorney Maxwell McKay.
According to reports, Savory, 41, of Lot 37 Friendship, EBD, got into an argument with the accused, who is said to be of “unsound mind.” Hyles reportedly took a piece of broken bottle and stabbed Savory in his neck.
The injured man was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.
Hyles was subsequently charged and placed before the court. However, based on the probation report, a psychiatric evaluation was done to determine whether the man was fit to stand trial.
State psychiatrist, Dr. Bhiro Harry, diagnosed Hyles with paranoid schizophrenia, a psychotic illness, which is usually, accompanied by a series of hallucinations.
The report further stated that the accused who grew up at Plaisance, East Coast of Demerara, had several brushes with the law as a child as he would wander the streets on many occasions.
He subsequently left school and worked as a labourer. Hyles had become a vagrant in his community, before migrating to Cayenne (French Guiana), where he spent a number of years. During his time overseas, the accused served time in prison and was admitted to a mental institution.
He returned to Guyana but continued his abnormal behaviour. Family members recalled that he would wander the streets naked or go for days without food.
Based on the report, Savory, a deportee from North America, had attacked the accused on the day of the incident.
The victim was the caretaker of the property at Friendship, East Coast Demerara in which Hyles and his family lived.
Savory would reportedly constantly confront the accused about his abnormal behavior.
The accused claimed that Savory had jumped the fence during a heated exchange between them which escalated into a physical altercation.
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