ELROY Withrite, also known as ‘Eddie’, has pleaded guilty to the 2019 murder of his neighbour, 43-year-old Andrew Drakes, known as ‘Beach Clothes’.

Withrite, 25, appeared recently before Justice Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Demerara High Court, where he admitted to the fatal attack. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2024, pending a mental health evaluation.

Attorney Kezia Williams is representing Withrite, while State Counsel, Alvaro Ramotar, leads the prosecution’s case.

The incident occurred on June 8, 2019, in Pump Station Street, Farm, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), following a prior altercation between the two men.

According to court records, Withrite attacked Drakes with a cutlass, inflicting multiple chop wounds. Witnesses reported hearing screams before Drakes was found lying in a pool of blood. Withrite, who was apprehended sometime after the incident, confessed to the killing, stating that he attacked Drakes after accusing him of sexual assault the day before.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that Drakes died from haemorrhage and shock caused by eight incised wounds.