Final 2 accused admit to killing elderly Professor

The last two accused persons in the killing of 75-year-old Professor Pariedeau Mars have changed their not-guilty plea to guilty.

Paul Chance and Andre Benjamin, both 21 years old, were indicted for the capital offence of murder when they appeared before Demerara High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon last week on Monday. As such, a jury was empanelled to hear the matter.
However, on Tuesday, the duo opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, thereby admitting to killing the elderly man on May 12, 2016, at Prashad Nagar, Georgetown.

Upon the direction of the trial Judge, the 12-member jury returned guilty verdicts in respect of both men. Their sentencing hearing is fixed for June 9, 2022. Justice Kissoon ordered that probation reports be compiled on both men and that they undergo psychological evaluations.

Back in 2019, 21-year-old Naomi Adams, 23-year-old Nikisha Dover, and 22-year-old Orin McRae, who had been jointly charged, along with Benjamin and Chance, confessed to the crime. Initially indicted for the capital offence of murder, the trio opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter upon their arraignment before High Court Judge Navindra Singh.
Adams, being the first to confess to the crime, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, while her co-accused, Dover and McRae, were each jailed for 12 years. It was ordered that the prison authorities deduct the years each of them spent on remand from their sentence.

It was reported that Mars, also known as “Perry” of Bissessar Avenue, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, was found bound and beaten in his home about 18:30h on May 12, 2016, by his wife upon her return from Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). He was subsequently rushed to a private city hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigations revealed that Dover was known to the now dead professor as she would frequently visit his home. It was further revealed that she conspired with the others to rob the elderly man who was at home alone. An iPhone, cash, laptop, and gaming console were among the items stolen from Mars’ home. (G1)