A Golden Grove fisherman, who plied his trade in the East Berbice/Corentyne district, was on Tuesday afternoon sentenced to 13 years imprisonment by Justice Jo Ann Barlow after he pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter.

Hilton Lilley, 48, formerly of the East Coast Demerara, was originally indicted with the capital offence of murder, but denied the charge and confessed to the lesser charge which was accepted by the State. The State’s case is that on October 26, 2014, at Number 66 Village Corentyne, Lilley killed his friend, Lakeram Singh, also called ‘Dafat’ or David.

Singh, formerly of Lot 13, Fyrish Village, Corentyne, died as a result of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds. On the day of the incident, both men were consuming alcoholic beverages at a shop near the Number 66 Fishermen Complex where they worked. During the drinking, an argument erupted during which Lilley was chopped on his hand by Singh who was armed with a cutlass.

Lilley retaliated by grabbing a knife and inflicting several wounds about Singh’s body, resulting in his death at the Skeldon Public Hospital. The convict had initially fled the scene but was captured shortly thereafter. He expressed regret over the incident.