‘Hotskull’ admits to brutal killing of pensioner

Sherwin Clarke known as ‘Hot Skull’ on Tuesday confessed to the 2016 murder of 76-year-old David Ramkissoon.

Clarke, formerly of South Better Hope, was on trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury at the Georgetown High Court.

Last week, Clarke pleaded not guilty to the capital offence of murder, which alleged that he killed Ramkissoon during the course of a robbery on August 21, 2016.

However, on Tuesday, during his trial, Clarke opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.  Justice Kissoon then directed the jury to return a formal verdict of guilty to manslaughter.

Sentencing was deferred to June 30, when Clarke’s probation report will be presented in court.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Damien DaSilva, while the State was represented by prosecutor Muntaz Ali.

According to the prosecution’s case, on the day in question, the victim was alone at home when Clarke, along with others, invaded the building and robbed him. During the robbery reported, the elderly man’s throat was slit.

The matter was to the police after relatives returned from the creek and discovered his body.

Police had also arrested another man, Godfrey Gill called ‘Chucky’ in connection to the crime. In April 2022, Gill was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter.