A FRIENDSHIP, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident, Joshua O’Neil, has pleaded guilty to the 2020 murder of Marlon Peters, 33, in a case stemming from a dispute over a stolen cell phone.

Represented by defence attorney, Ronald Bostwick, O’Neil was arraigned before Justice Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Demerara High Court recently.

The incident occurred on the evening of May 9, 2020, at Gobin Dam, Friendship, EBD.

A probation and prison report as well as a psychiatric report were ordered and O’Neil will return to court on July 29, 2024, for his sentencing hearing.

State Counsels Alvaro Ramotar and Marisa Edwards are representing the prosecution.

Peters, also a resident of Friendship, EBD was walking home around 21:45 hours when O’Neil, 31, approached him near a shop. According to eyewitness reports, O’Neil confronted Peters about a cell phone that had allegedly been stolen while they were in the interior.

An argument ensued, but Peters opted to walk away. O’Neil then tackled Peters from behind, stabbing him multiple times with a knife. The attack left Peters with severe injuries, including stab wounds to his right upper abdomen and right upper back.

Despite efforts to save him, Peters was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD.

Following the attack, O’Neil fled into the nearby bush but was subsequently apprehended.

Police investigators at the scene uncovered a black-handle kitchen knife.