Two more youths accused of killing retired professor Pairaudeau `Perry’ Mars have pleaded to man-slaughter charges and are now awaiting sentencing, pending the presentation of probation reports.
Though initially indicating their intentions two weeks ago to go to trial to contest the capital charge with which they were originally indicted, Orin McRae and Nikesha Dover yesterday admitted guilt on the lesser offence of manslaughter.
When the matter was called before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Georgetown, the two youngsters accepted that they, together with others, unlawfully killed Mars during a robbery at his Prashad Nagar home on May 12th, 2016.
Before accepting the pleas of the youngsters, Justice Singh enquired whether they were in any way being forced, and whether they had first sought the advice of their respective attorneys.
Both said they were not being forced and clarified that they had sought the guidance of counsel.
The youngsters indicated, too, when asked by the judge, of being aware of their right to a trial if they so wanted, but noted that they were instead waiving that right in favour of pleading to the lesser offence.
Pointing out their youth—Dover is 20 and McRae 19—Justice Singh deferred sentencing until July 12th, to facilitate the presentation of probation reports that he has ordered.
Presenting the summary of facts, Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy said on the day in question, the jointly-charged duo and others had gone to Mars’ house, where they assisted in holding him down as others in their company choked him. Thereafter, the prosecutor said, the group of teens ransacked and robbed the man’s premises.
Mars died as a result of asphyxiation.
Dover is being represented by attorney Mohamed Ali, and Mc Rae is being represented by attorney Adrian Thompson.
Earlier this month, 18-year-old Naomi Adams was the first from the group of five accused to have thrown herself at the mercy of the court, taking responsibility for the part she played in the professor’s killing.
Justice Singh has also deferred her sentencing for preparation of a probation report, which is to be presented on June 24th.
Police had said that Mars, 75, also known as ‘Perry,’ was found in his Prashad Nagar home with his hands and feet duct taped and injuries to his head. His house was ransacked and a number of articles and cash were stolen.
Mars, who was discovered by his wife on her return home from Linden, was rushed to St Joseph Mercy Hospital, where he died while receiving medical attention. Among the items recovered by the police were a sum of cash, a laptop computer, an iPhone and a video game console, the police had said in a statement.
