A 25-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing a Kwakwani resident has been acquitted of both murder and the lesser count of manslaughter following unanimous verdicts by a jury at the High Court in Demerara.
Daniel Hartman was found not guilty after a trial before Justice Joy Persaud-Singh.
Hartman had been charged with the murder of Ronaldo Marshall, called “Blacka”, a 28-year-old unemployed man of Kwakwani Waterfront, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), who died following a stabbing incident on April 3, 2025.
The unanimous verdict was returned after the jury considered arguments from both the prosecution and defence regarding whether Hartman acted in self-defence.
Representing the prosecution were attorneys Padma Dubraj, Aleria Heywood and Nelissa Peterkin, while attorney-at-law Tonza Sarrabo appeared for Hartman.
During the trial, the defence maintained that Hartman acted in self-defence and argued that the prosecution had failed to disprove that account beyond a reasonable doubt.
The prosecution, however, contended that self-defence had been disproved.
State attorneys pointed to the severity of the injuries sustained by Marshall, the words allegedly uttered by Hartman while inflicting the wounds, and the fact that Hartman himself suffered no injuries during the confrontation.
The prosecution further argued that the force used was disproportionate to any threat allegedly posed by Marshall.
According to the prosecution’s facts, the incident occurred on April 3, 2025, at a house owned by Hartman at Kwakwani Waterfront.
On the day in question, at approximately 21:30 hours, Hartman returned from Georgetown and saw Marshall in his house. He approached Marshall and told him that he cannot stay there, after which an argument ensued between them.
Nicholas Hartman, Daniel Hartman’s brother, initially permitted Marshall to stay at the house while he searched for employment. During the dispute between the two men, Nicholas attempted to speak with them about their behaviour before leaving the residence.
According to an eyewitness, Marshall visited her shop later that evening to purchase a Turbo drink. Shortly afterwards, Daniel Hartman approached Marshall, carrying a Guinness bottle and told him that he did not appreciate him staying at his house.
Daniel Hartman then left the shop and went to secure his home. About five minutes later, he returned, opened the door, and Marshall followed him inside, where he allegedly dealt Daniel Hartman a “cuff” to the back of his head.
The eyewitness alleged that Daniel Hartman then dealt Marshall a “cuff” to the face, causing him to fall to the ground. While Marshall was on the ground, Daniel Hartman allegedly kicked him several times, during which his hand was moving as though he was stabbing Marshall.
The witness further alleged that Daniel Hartman told Marshall, “When I done with you, hey… you gon dead.” After witnessing the incident, the woman reportedly closed her shop and approached Nicholas Hartman to inform him of what she had observed.
Police subsequently contacted Daniel Hartman at Kwakwani Waterfront on April 4, 2025. After being informed of the allegation and cautioned in accordance with the Judges’ Rules, he reportedly admitted to using a knife to inflict injuries on Marshall.
A post-mortem examination conducted on April 7, 2025, by Dr Nehaul Singh determined that Marshall died from haemorrhage and shock due to multiple incised wounds. The examination revealed 13 incised wounds, six of which penetrated body cavities.