The plea was accepted two weeks ago but Justice Brassington Reynolds awaited a probation report on the convict before pronouncing sentence.

The judge said he took into consideration the stirring plea in

mitigation by Defence Counsel Kim Kyte-John, the fact that Simon had been incarcerated for four years and had been stabbed by the victim who was the aggressor.

Justice Reynolds said he also considered that the prisoner only inflicted one blow to the head of Keith Nobrega with a broken bottle and the favourable probation report.

The killing took place at the home of Nobrega, in Hadfield Street, Georgetown, on March 23, 2005, after which Simon was charged with the capital offence but State Prosecutor Zamilla Ally accepted the plea to manslaughter on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Prosecution narrative included that Simon was in his bed that night but left his room to make peace after learning that fighting had erupted outside.

Probation Officer I. King said Simon and Nobrega had been acquainted with each other for about four years prior

to the 2005 tragedy and shared a good relationship before the incident that occurred at a birthday party hosted by Camille Faria, Simon’s reputed wife.

King concluded that the prisoner appears to have suffered lax parental guidance during his childhood and was forced to

curtail his academic pursuits while still an adolescent and became burdened with family life responsibilities at the young age of 16 years.

He entered into the workforce with limited academic intelligence to guide him smoothly through life, King said, adding that the former had expressed remorse over the loss of life.

However, noting that, over the years, there has been an increase in such crimes, King suggested that society should take a serious view of this emergent trend and the necessary actions to curb it.