DAYS after pleading not guilty to killing Simone Hackett, the mother of his child, Clevaughn Hamilton called ‘Quarters’, on Monday, decided to change his plea.

On September 1, Hamilton and co-accused Ranchal Singh appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court for the capital offence of murder.

Hamilton entered a not guilty plea and a 12-member jury was later empanelled to hear his case, which was scheduled to commence on Monday, September 5.

Singh opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and his sentencing was deferred to later this month.

On Monday, Hamilton indicated his desire to change his plea to guilty. He admitted that between April 16 and 19, 2016 at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, he murdered Hackett of ‘C’ Field, Sophia.

The matter has been adjourned until September 26, 2022, for the presentation of a probation report and sentencing.

Attorney Alaira Murphy-Goodman represented Hamilton, while prosecutor Muntaz Ali presented the State’s case.

The mother of one was reported missing by relatives on April 17, 2016, after she failed to return home after going to collect a package.

According to reports, during the evening of April 16, 2016, Singh and Hamilton, picked up the woman from UG Access Road.

The court heard that Hackett was taken further down the said road, and was killed in the backseat of the vehicle by Hamilton. She was then dumped in a nearby trench by the pair.

The men fled the area and later travelled to Mahdia. Hackett’s body was discovered by two boys on their way to school and was positively identified by relatives.

The report of the post-mortem performed on Hackett indicated that she died as a result of incised wounds to the neck.

Singh was detained after his bloodstained vehicle was found. Hamilton was later arrested and confessed to the crime.