Murder accused Morris Roberts, called ‘Moses,’ who was on trial for killing a man in 2009, was yesterday sentenced to 10 years in prison on the lesser charge of manslaughter by Justice Franklin Holder in the High Court.
Roberts, on trial before a mixed jury for the murder of Martin Daniels, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Roberts had previously stood trial before Justice Navindra Singh during the June 2013 Demerara Assizes, but was remanded to prison to await a retrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict then.
It was the state’s case that on August 16 at Wanakai, North West District, Essequibo, Roberts murdered Daniels. They had been drinking and conversing with other persons and heated argument ensued between the two and Daniels was tantalising Roberts, saying he was living off “dead people money.”
During the argument, Roberts armed himself with a piece of wood and dealt Daniels several blows to his head. He fell to the ground and was rushed to the Mabaruma Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. After being a fugitive for four days, Roberts later turned himself into the police on August 20.
Justice Holder, in handing down the sentence, said that the sentence started at 30 years. However, he explained he was subtracting 5 years for the time Roberts already spent in prison, and 15 years for Roberts being a model prisoner. He also took into consideration the fact that he was provoked. Roberts was then sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
After the sentencing, Roberts told the court that he was very sorry and blamed his actions on alcohol. He also asked for a chance to be with his family again. He told the judge, “Thank you your honour, thank you very much.”
Superintendent of Prisons, Gladwyn Samuels also submitted to Justice Holder a report, which described Roberts as a model prisoner.
In mitigation, defense attorney Clarissa Riehl told the court that Roberts was 46 years, married and a father of eight children, whom he has not seen since his incarceration. She said that her client was remorseful and that he wanted to plead from the beginning, but the state assigned counsel prevented him from doing so.
State Counsel Judith Gildharie Mursalin presented the case for the prosecution.
