Man pleads guilty to killing cousin

Tekeram Lachanna, who is accused of stabbing cousin Mohammed Sheriff also known as ‘Sheriff’ and ‘Buddy’ to death, yesterday pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when the trial began before Justice Roxane George.

Lachanna, Sheriff’s cousin, will return to court on September 20, when a probation report will be presented on him, after which he will be sentenced.

State-appointed attorney Mark Waldron represented Lachanna, who admitted to the stabbing of Sheriff on July 15, 2007 at Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara. Sheriff later succumbed to his injuries on July 18.

Lachanna and Sheriff were at Lachanna’s sister’s home drinking high wine when an argument over a jersey ensued between them. Lachanna had accused Sheriff of wearing his jersey and he asked him to take it off but Mohammed claimed it was not his jersey.

Another cousin, who was at home and heard the argument, intervened in the matter and gave Sheriff a jersey to put on and sent him home. Sheriff then put on the said jersey and took another shot of high wine before leaving.

As he was about to leave he told Lachanna something and Lachanna went into kitchen, picked up a knife and stabbed Sheriff.

Sheriff was rushed to the hospital where he subsequently died.