KENO Lampkin, also known as “Cuz” and “Coues,” has been convicted of manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of Kevin Serapphin, following a Demerara High Court trial that concluded on March 17, 2026.

 

A jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty on the charge of murder but found Lampkin guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter by a majority of 11:1 after nearly five hours of deliberation.

 

Sentencing for the convict is scheduled for April 20, 2026.

 

Lampkin, of Central Amelia’s Ward, McKenzie, Linden, had been on trial before Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh, before whom he denied the charge.

The case stemmed from an incident on August 23, 2023, at Speightland, Lower Kara Kara, McKenzie, Linden, while both men were at a party.

 

According to evidence presented in court, trouble began when Serapphin’s girlfriend was slapped by another man at the event.

 

Serapphin confronted the individual, leading to a heated argument that escalated into a physical altercation. The man was reportedly among a group of men, suspected to be a gang, and the convict was said to be part of that group.

 

Eyewitnesses told the court that Serapphin, while defending his girlfriend, armed himself with a bottle and stabbed one of the men, who fell into a nearby culvert.

 

The confrontation intensified, with the men scuffling before being separated.

 

However, the situation quickly escalated. The group allegedly began attacking Serapphin, hurling bottles, pieces of wood and other objects at him, effectively trapping him in the culvert and preventing his escape.

 

Witnesses further testified that Lampkin was seen entering the culvert with a knife and stabbing Serapphin.

 

The injured man later managed to exit the culvert but collapsed shortly after, and the group reportedly continued the assault.

 

Lampkin was subsequently seen with a knife bearing bloodstains.

 

Serapphin was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

 

 

A post-mortem examination revealed multiple injuries, including a stab wound to the chest caused by a sharp instrument, measuring approximately 12 centimetres.

 

The pathologist also found evidence of blunt trauma to his head.

 

The cause of death was determined to be perforation of the heart and lung due to the stab wound.

 

Lampkin was arrested on September 14, 2023. When the allegation was put to him, he told investigators, “Me ain’t murder anybody.”

 

As the investigation progressed and he was confronted with evidence, he maintained, “Me ain’t bore nobody. Me ain’t went on the incident.”

 

Two days later, on September 16, 2023, he was positively identified during identification parades.

 

He was formally charged on September 18, 2023, at the Linden Magistrate’s Court. A prima facie case was established, and he was committed to stand trial by Magistrate Ruschelle Liverpool on March 27, 2025.

 

At that stage, he remained silent when asked if he had anything to say.

 

During the High Court trial, Lampkin’s defence, led by attorney George Thomas, argued that he was not present at the scene and had instead gone to take an injured person to the Linden Hospital Complex.

 

The defence also contended that others were responsible for the injuries that ultimately caused Serapphin’s death.

 

Additionally, the defence challenged the integrity of the identification parade, suggesting that it had been conducted in a manner that would have led to Lampkin being pointed out. However, this claim was not substantiated, as evidence before the court indicated that police adhered to the required procedures.

 

At the close of the prosecution’s case, Lampkin gave an unsworn statement from the dock.

 

In it, he admitted that he was present on the night of the incident but denied participating, claiming instead that he was merely a witness.

 

The prosecution highlighted that this position contradicted the defence’s earlier case, which asserted that he was not at the scene at all.

 

 

Lampkin also told the court that on the day of the identification parade, he had requested the presence of his family and lawyer but was informed that it was too late to contact them. However, he acknowledged that after the parade, he went to the enquiries office where a bag containing clothing and personal items had been left for him by those same relatives.

 

The prosecution in the matter was led by State Counsel Geneva Wills, assisted by State Counsel Christopher Belfield of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

 

With the conviction now secured, the court is set to determine Lampkin’s sentence when the matter resumes in April.