16 years jail for man who killed boy, 19

Ryan Albert called ‘Murray’ was on Wednesday sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for fatally stabbing a 19-year-old boy and wounding another teenager during an altercation in 2016 at Yarakita, North West District (NWD).

Last November, Albert, 23, was first arraigned before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court for manslaughter and assault causing actual bodily harm.

He admitted that on March 29, 2016, at Yarakita Village, NWD, he unlawfully killed 19-year-old Dalton Emanuel. He also admitted to assaulting Mark Edwards causing actual bodily harm.

During a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, State prosecutor Latifah Elliot told the court that Albert and the victims were friends.

On the day in question, the men were consuming “high wine” when an argument ensued between Albert and Emanuel.

Albert pulled out a pair of scissors from his pants waist and stabbed Emanuel to his chest. Albert then turned his attention to Edward and stabbed him twice in his back.

Emanuel was reportedly taken to the Mabaruma Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Albert’s attorney Ravindra Mohabir, during a plea of mitigation, told the court that his client has accepted responsibility for his actions and can be rehabilitated.

“I never had the intention to do these things,” Albert told the judge as he begged for leniency.

Taking all of the particulars of Albert’s case into consideration, the judge commenced the sentence for the manslaughter indictment at a base of 16 years from which she deducted one-third for his early plea.

The judge further ordered the prison authorities to deduct the time Albert spent in pretrial custody from the sentence. Albert has been in custody since March 2016.

However, he was not given any deduction for the assault charge and was handed a four years sentence.  The judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently.