DAVENAND Dhandhari of Lot 27 Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice, who was initially charged with murder and was committed to stand trial at the next session of the Berbice Assizes, was on Tuesday indicted for manslaughter.

On April 22, 2016, Dhandhari, then 18 years old, allegedly murdered Omesh Seelall, called “Rovin” and “Short Neck”.
Seelall, 21, a labourer, sustained injuries to his head, resulting in his death six days after he was allegedly hit by Dhandhari during a wedding house brawl.

Reports had revealed that the youths were among others when an argument started between the two. The accused reportedly grabbed a piece of wood from an animal-drawn cart across the road and hit Seelall on the head, rendering him unconscious.

Eyewitnesses had hurriedly transported the injured man to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he received emergency treatment before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died days later.

The police had retrieved the alleged murder weapon. The defence counsel had contended that Dhandhari acted in self-defence.

At the time of the incident, Dhandhari was a first-year Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) student at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School.
He had written his examinations as a remand prisoner.

The case was prosecuted by Attorney George Thomas, who led the evidence of eight witnesses.