A MURDER trial in the Berbice High Court ended before evidence could be heard after the accused changed his plea and admitted to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Bhola Jaipersaud, called “Joey,” of Bush Lot Village, Corentyne, had previously pleaded not guilty to the 2022 murder of Rameshwar Sydney.
However, when he appeared before Justice Gino Persaud on Monday, he changed his plea to guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
The plea was entered after a 12-member jury had already been empanelled to hear the case.
Following the change of plea, Justice Persaud ordered that probation, prison and psychiatric reports be prepared ahead of sentencing.
The matter was adjourned to September 3, 2026, for sentencing. Jaipersaud is represented by Attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat.
Jaipersaud had been charged with the murder of Sydney, 47, of Bush Lot Village, Corentyne, over an incident on July 8, 2022.
According to the prosecution’s case, Sydney had returned home from his farm and was having lunch when Jaipersaud reportedly invited him to continue a conversation at his nearby home.
Shortly afterwards, Sydney was seen running back towards his residence with a knife lodged in his neck. A security guard who witnessed him collapse raised an alarm, and relatives rushed to his aid. Sydney was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Jaipersaud was initially charged with murder before the Whim Magistrate’s Court in 2022, where he was remanded to prison and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
He was later committed to stand trial after the magistrate ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.
He had pleaded not guilty when arraigned in the High Court on July 28, 2026, and his trial was scheduled to begin on August 3 before a judge and jury.
However, before the prosecution could open its case, Jaipersaud changed his plea, bringing the case to an early end.
State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards had planned to call approximately 15 witnesses, including 10 police ranks and a medical doctor, before Jaipersaud changed his plea.
Following Jaipersaud’s guilty plea to manslaughter, the 12-member jury empanelled to hear the case was discharged.