LINCON Odell, 29, also known as “Shadow”, has confessed to stomping the life out of an octogenarian, Fitz Herbert Grimes, after the elderly man refused to give him money and advised that he “go find a job”.

The murder at Race Course, Springlands was witnessed by an 11-year-old boy who peeped through a crack in a wall.

Odell, who was represented by Attorney-at-law, Siand Dhurjon, appeared before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Berbice Assizes, where he pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Odell is among 14 prisoners at the New Amsterdam Prison, who have submitted statements indicating their willingness to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Meanwhile, according to the facts presented by State Prosecutrix, Seeta Bishundial, the accused is a regular visitor to the pensioner’s home. At the time of the visit, Grimes’ caretaker, along with her 11-year-old son was at the house.

Shortly after, the caretaker left to visit a nearby shop, leaving her son and the accused downstairs.

Soon after, the accused went upstairs and out of curiosity, the pre-teen followed, and peeping through a crack on the wall, he saw the accused choking the pensioner with one hand while cuffing his face with another.

On witnessing the incident, the child ran outside, screaming, ‘murder! His father saw him and after he confided in the parent, they returned to the scene as the accused was exiting the house.

Two neighbours, on hearing the scuffle next door, looked through their window and saw the accused coming out of the house with bloodied clothing.

Odell reportedly said the octogenarian fell down and needed help. A post-mortem revealed that Grimes died as a result of manual strangulation.

In his caution statement, Odell said he went to the pensioner to ask for a raise and instead of giving him a raise, Grimes also known as “Grandfather”, told him to go and work.

Odell said he got angry and choked the old man and stomped his chest until blood flowed. Afterwards he saw the child and ran behind him with a cutlass but the child escaped.