Kebra Duncan to be sentenced for 2019 killing, after pleading guilty to manslaughter

More than five years after the violent death of Edino Jose, the man accused of taking his life, Kebra Duncan, has admitted responsibility, but not to murder. Duncan is now awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Duncan appeared in the Georgetown High Court on Tuesday before Justice Nareshwar Harnanan, where he was formally arraigned on a murder indictment. However, instead of proceeding to trial on the capital offence, Duncan pleaded not guilty to murder and confessed to the unlawful killing of Jose during a fight on September 15, 2019.
State Prosecutor Preneeta Seeraj, outlining the circumstances of the case, told the court that Duncan and Jose became embroiled in a violent altercation that quickly spiralled out of control.
Duncan would later claim that during the scuffle, Jose armed himself with a broken beer bottle and attacked him.
Hours after the deadly encounter, Jose’s lifeless body was discovered lying near a trench, by a passer-by.
Police were called to the scene and immediately launched an investigation. Duncan was later located and taken into custody. Upon being informed of the allegations against him, he reportedly admitted to killing Jose.
In a written caution statement given to police investigators, Duncan detailed the events that led to the young man’s death.
He said that during the confrontation, he threw a brick at Jose and then struck him with a cutlass. At some point, Jose jumped into a nearby trench, but Duncan told investigators he dragged him out and left him motionless on the embankment before fleeing the scene.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that Jose’s death was caused by multiple blunt force injuries, with drowning contributing to his death.
Following his admission of guilt, Duncan was remanded to prison and will remain incarcerated until his sentencing, which is scheduled for May 22, 2025.
The State’s case is being prosecuted by a team led by State Counsel Seeraj, along with Abiola Lowe and Mtumika Lumumba.
Duncan is being represented by Defence Attorneys Tanza Sarabo and Jed Vasconcellos.