Hururu man jailed for 18 years for chopping friend to death

A man, who admitted to chopping his friend to death during a drinking spree at Hururu Mission, Upper Berbice River, was sentenced to 18 years in prison by Justice Simone Morris at the Berbice High Court on Thursday.
Maxton Walker is expected to spend the next 18 years in prison for the murder of 36-year-old Marcus Adrian at Hururu Mission, Upper Berbice River, which occurred in March 2024.
In handing down the sentence at the Berbice High Court, Justice Morris said the killing was senseless and noted that the two men had reportedly been drinking together moments before the attack. The court heard that the sentence began at 27 years.
However, Walker was granted a one-third reduction because of his guilty plea, reducing the sentence to 18 years of imprisonment.

Justice Morris said the aggravating and mitigating factors were balanced and, therefore, no further adjustment to the sentence was warranted. Walker will, however, become eligible for parole after serving 15 years.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Marisa Edwards told the court that Adrian suffered 23 incised wounds, including 13 to the neck area above the Adam’s apple. She argued that a dangerous weapon was used and described the killing as intentional and unwarranted.
Defence attorney Charlyn Artiga, nonetheless, asked the court to show leniency, noting that Walker had accepted responsibility for the killing while acknowledging the seriousness of the offence.
The court also heard evidence from probation and psychiatric officials.
Probation and Welfare Officer Shellita Murray told the court that Walker left school in Grade seven and later worked with his father in the logging industry before moving into mechanical work.
The probation officer said some residents of Hururu described Walker as easy-going, while others claimed he was known for threatening behaviour.
According to the report, some villagers alleged that days before the killing, Walker had been walking around the community with a cutlass, saying that someone had to die.
Murray also told the court that family members claimed Walker had previously displayed signs of mental difficulties and had once been sent to Georgetown for treatment. However, she said there were no records to verify that claim.
Meanwhile, forensic psychiatrist Dr Meenawattie Rajkumar told the court there were no signs of psychiatric illness or psychological disorder affecting Walker.
The psychiatrist said Walker denied any family history of mental illness but admitted that he had once suffered what he described as a nervous breakdown.
The court also heard that Walker admitted to using marijuana and accepted responsibility for the killing.
In her ruling, Justice Morris said the victim’s parents continued to experience profound grief following the death of their son.