CHRISTOPHER Van Nooten, a resident of Mabaruma in the North-West District (NWD), aged 50, will receive his sentence on August 13, 2024, for the murder of Sherwin Smith, who was forty-four years old at the time of the crime.
Van Nooten, who had been indicted on a charge for the capital offence of murder, pleaded guilty when he appeared last month before Justice Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus of the Demerara High Court. Smith of Kumaka Water Front, NWD was killed on April 18, 2022.

Van Nooten is being represented by attorney, Ronald Bostwick, while State Counsel, Marisa Edwards and Alvaro Ramotar are appearing on behalf of the prosecution.
According to reports, Van Nooten stabbed Smith at the Mabaruma Settlement Ground.

A statement from the police had said that, on the day in question, a policeman at the eastern gate of the ground saw when Van Nooten walked towards Smith holding a knife.
Van Nooten then walked up to Smith and dealt him several stabs about his body.

The law enforcement officer promptly intervened and successfully disarmed the criminal. Smith, who was injured, made his way to a nearby car and subsequently collapsed. He was then urgently transported to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, where medical attention was provided for injuries sustained to his left abdomen and neck.
He unfortunately succumbed to his injuries at about 20:00hrs on the same date. It is believed that an old grievance between the two led to the stabbing.