Rupununi resident, Yuri Nicholas was Monday sentenced to eight years in prison for the 2019 fatal stabbing of Elton Leonard, a father of four from Karasabai Village, Region Nine.
The sentencing was handed down by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, at the Demerara High Court.
Yuri Nicholas, initially indicted of murder, pled guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter during his arraignment at the Demerara High Court last month.
By admitting guilt to manslaughter, Nicholas acknowledged his unlawful action that resulted in the death of Leonard on May 3, 2019, in the serene setting of Karasabai Village in the Rupununi, Region Nine.
Given Nicholas’ early plea and the nature of the case, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced him to eight years imprisonment.
The judge ordered the prison service to deduct the time he spent in pretrial custody from the sentence.
The case against Nicholas was spearheaded by State Counsel Caressa Henry and Joy Williams, with Attorney Teriq Mohammed providing defence.
According to reports, the tragic incident unfolded after Leonard, having spent hours imbibing alcohol, became embroiled in a heated argument with Nicholas and two other men at a local bar in Karasabai.
The altercation escalated, culminating in Leonard being fatally stabbed in his left chest, leading to his immediate collapse and death at the scene, as his assailants fled.
Nicholas, in his caution statement, told the police that on the night in question, after encountering Leonard and enduring verbal abuse, he resolved to confront him. This decision led to a deadly confrontation, during which an individual identified only as “Bruce| allegedly stabbed Leonard, followed by further physical assault from the group.
The attackers dispersed as residents began to emerge, leaving Leonard to succumb to his injuries on the ground. Nicholas was apprehended five days following the incident.
An autopsy revealed Leonard’s cause of death as a heart perforation due to a stab wound to the left side chest.