Manslaughter convict begs for mercy

The sentencing of a man who was implicated in the murder of a miner back in June 2017 has been deferred to April 26, for a probation report.
Eustace Abrams was on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a 12-member jury for the June 15, 2017 murder of Orlando La Cruz, a Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) man who was shot dead at Jack and Vieira Backdam, North West District (NWD).
Abrams pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment presented against him by State Prosecutor Tyra Bakker.
Instead, the jury found him guilty on the lesser count of manslaughter.
The verdict was returned by the jury by 10-2 margin.
After the decision was handed down, Abrams told the Court that he was sorry and further begged Justice Reynolds for mercy, adding that owing to his absence, his children were now begging on the road.
According to reports, La Cruz was lying in a hammock at his mining camp when Abrams and another man visited him.
They began consuming alcohol.
It was reported that shortly after, one of the men had asked La Cruz to perform oral sex on him, however, when the now-dead man refused, an argument ensued. During the ordeal, La Cruz was shot in the right side of his neck by one of the men.
The two men made good their escape. La Cruz was later discovered in the hammock bleeding. He was pronounced dead at the Matthews Ridge District Hospital. (G15)