Lethem youth gets 6 years for killing drinking buddy

A 24-year-old Lethem resident, Fabian “Chucky” Abraham, has been sentenced to six years in prison for fatally beating his drinking buddy, 48-year-old Leroy Ault, during an altercation in March 2020.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon on Thursday at the Demerara High Court.
Initially charged with murder, Abraham pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. The incident, which occurred at Kanuku Drive, Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), saw Ault, a farmer from Moco Moco Village, beaten with a piece of iron by Abraham during a melee.
It was reported that Ault was involved in an argument with another man when a group of men, including Abraham, attacked him. Armed with various objects, the group inflicted severe injuries on Ault, with Abraham delivering the fatal blows to his head using a piece of iron.
Ault was rushed to the Lethem Regional Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. His cause of death was confirmed as cerebral haemorrhage due to blunt force trauma.

At the time of the incident, Abraham was just 19 years old.
During sentencing, State Counsel Delon Fraser described the attack as senseless and cruel, emphasising that Ault was unarmed and posed no threat. Fraser highlighted the devastating impact of the farmer’s death on his family and community, particularly his children, who now face life without their father’s support and guidance.
The prosecutor argued for a severe sentence, starting at 25 years, to reflect the gravity of the offence and to deter similar crimes. He underscored the deliberate nature of the attack, noting that Abraham left the scene after delivering the fatal blows, abandoning Ault to die.
Defence attorney Jerome Khan pleaded for leniency, pointing to Abraham’s young age, lack of a criminal record, and genuine remorse for his actions. Khan noted that Abraham cooperated with police and opted for an early guilty plea, sparing the victim’s family a lengthy trial.
Khan also highlighted that Ault’s family expressed a desire for Abraham to avoid incarceration. Additionally, he mentioned that Abraham had been gainfully employed in his family’s food business and as a mechanic before his incarceration.
When asked for a final statement, Abraham said, “I didn’t intend to cause his [Ault’s] death. The thing happened so fast…”
In delivering the sentence, Justice Kissoon acknowledged that alcohol consumption played a significant role in the crime, noting the prevalence of unregulated rum shops in hinterland communities as a contributing factor to violence. He stressed that crimes fueled by alcohol are a growing concern in the region.
While considering the victim’s family’s appeal for leniency, Justice Kissoon emphasised that a custodial sentence was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the crime and to uphold public trust in the justice system.
Justice Kissoon started with a baseline sentence of 10 years, reducing it by one-third (three years and three months) for Abraham’s early guilty plea. A further seven-month deduction was applied for mitigating factors, including his youth, remorse, lack of premeditation, and provocation by Ault, resulting in a final sentence of six years.
Abraham was also credited for time spent on remand. Additionally, the judge ordered Abraham to participate in educational and rehabilitation programmes, including those addressing alcohol abuse, during his incarceration.