Man of ‘unsound mind’ gets 15 years for fatal stabbing

Justice Dawn Gregory on Monday sentenced Sherwin Hyle, a man of “unsound mind,” to 15 years imprisonment for fatally stabbing another man.

Hyle, who had pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, was sentenced for killing Joel Savory at Friendship, East Bank Demerara in 2008, after a probation report was read in the High Court.

The report stated that Hyle was of an unsound mind and would constantly wander the streets naked.

 

Joel Savory
Joel Savory

Nearly a year ago, government psychiatrist Dr Bhiro Harry had testified that Hyle was suffering from schizophrenia and was therefore unfit to plead to the indictment. Harry said Hyle’s psychotic illness is accompanied by hallucinations.

However, a jury had disregarded Harry’s testimony and decided that he was fit to plead.

Savory, a father of three, was fatally stabbed a short distance from his home on May 1, 2008 at Friendship, during an argument.

Police had stated that Savory was walking along the street when he was confronted by Hyle, who stabbed him in the neck with a broken bottle during the argument.

Savory was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he died while receiving medical attention.