Man pleads guilty to drink-fuelled Rupununi killing

Phillip Sutherland

Phillip Sutherland is expected to be sentenced on March 27th for the death of Martin Roberts, whom he killed during a drunken fracas in the Rupununi in 2014.

Sutherland was initially indicted for murder, but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter yesterday, accepting that he unlawfully killed Roberts on January 9th, 2014.

His sentencing was, however, deferred to March 27th to facilitate the presentation of a probation report, which was requested by his attorney, Siand Dhurjon.

The matter is being heard by Justice James Bovell-Drakes at the High Court in Georgetown.

The state is being represented by Prosecutor Mandel Moore.

Roberts died as a result of asphyxiation and a broken larynx, compounded by blunt trauma to the head.

The defence’s contention is that an intoxicated Sutherland and another person were fighting when the deceased was caught in the midst of the brawl.