HIGH Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow, on Wednesday, sentenced 23-year-old Ryan Albert, called ‘Murray’, to a total of 20 years’ imprisonment for fatally stabbing a 19-year-old miner with a pair of scissors, and assaulting another man.

In November 2021, Albert, formerly of Yarakita, North West District (NWD), was arraigned at the Demerara High Court, where he admitted that on March 29, 2016 he unlawfully killed Dalton Emanuel.

He also admitted to assaulting Mark Edwards, so as to cause him actual bodily harm on the same date and at Yakarita, NWD, where the murder had occurred.

The state was represented by prosecutor Latifah Elliot, while attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir was on record for the accused.

On Wednesday, Prosecutor Elliot, in disclosing the facts in court, said that the parties involved were friends.

According to Elliot, on the day in question at around 22:00 hours, the men were consuming “high wine” when an argument ensued between Albert and Emanuel.

During the course of the argument, Albert not only stabbed Emanuel in the chest with a pair of scissors, but also turned the weapon on Edwards.

Emanuel was taken to the Mabaruma Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mohabir, during a plea of mitigation, asked the court to consider that his client was only 18-years-old when he committed the crime.

He further told the court that his client is remorseful and is pleading for a second chance.

Meanwhile, Albert during his address to the court said, “ I never had the intention to do these things… I’m very sorry.”

In delivering her sentence, the judge said she considered the aggravating factors of the case, and the age of the defendant at the time.

The judge sentenced Grant to 16 years. She ordered that the prison deduct one-third of the sentence for his early guilty plea to manslaughter.

She also ordered the prison authorities to deduct the time Albert spent in pre-trial custody from the sentence.

On the assault indictment, Albert was sentenced to four years with no deduction being made. The sentences will run concurrently.