Berbice man slapped with murder charge

A labourer was on Monday remanded to prison for allegedly stabbing a bartender to death over a $5000 bet.
Following the demise of 45-year-old Kern Wilson some 13 days after he was stabbed, the accused, who had been released on bail, returned to court on Monday where he was slapped with a murder charge.
Twenty-seven-year-old Mortimer Sandy, a labourer of Glasgow New Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plea to the charge which states that on December 6, he murdered Wilson.
During his court appearance on Monday, Sandy was represented by Attorney-at-Law Tuanna Hardy, who told the court that the accused was initially charged with attempted murder but with the passing of Wilson, a new charge was being instituted.
The prosecution told the court that the Police are waiting on the autopsy report to complete the case file. As such, the Magistrate adjourned the matter until January 17, 2024, when the Police would be required to serve the accused with all statements they have about the matter.
Sandy had made his first court appearance on November 28 and was remanded on a charge of attempted murder. However, when he returned to court on December 5, he was granted bail in the sum of $250,000.
However, in court on Monday, the Magistrate noted that it was the third case in recent times where he would have granted bail to someone accused of attempted murder and the victim would have died shortly after.
Wilson, a father of three, who had resided at Pepper Street in Heathburn Village, East Bank Berbice, and had operated a bar and carwash, had been stabbed on November 24 at a shop that he operated at Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice.
The victim and the accused had had a bet where $5000 was at stake.
Wilson reportedly won the bet. However, Sandy was reportedly not pleased and demanded to have his money refunded to him. He reportedly went into Wilson’s bar and picked up the money box, which is said to have contained more than $5000.
This resulted in an altercation between the two men during which Wilson was allegedly stabbed.
He was subsequently hospitalised and remained in the Intensive Care Unit of the New Amsterdam Hospital until his passing.