Miner jailed for killing colleague during rum shop dispute

A 45-year-old miner from One Mile, Itaballi, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for the killing of a fellow miner during a rum shop altercation last year.
Lloyd Daniels stood before Justice Navindra Singh at the Essequibo High Court and pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, admitting to fatally stabbing 58-year-old Jimmy Ashby between January 2 and 3, 2024. The charge was reduced from murder, which he had originally faced following his indictment.

The fatal incident took place at Falls Top, Arimu Backdam, deep in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni mining district, where both men had been working. According to State Prosecutor Caressa Henry, Daniels and Ashby had been drinking El Dorado 5-year-old rum at a shop known as “Foxy’s” on the afternoon of January 2. Sometime between 11:00 and 12:00h, an argument erupted. In the heat of the exchange, Daniels allegedly warned Ashby, “I am going to kill you.”
Hours later, around 13:00h, the shop owner, David Henry, popularly known as “Foxy”, found Ashby sitting on a step outside his establishment. Blood was visible on Ashby’s jersey. When asked what had occurred, Ashby reportedly replied, “Lloyd juk me.” Daniels was seen walking away from the area shortly after the encounter.
Ashby, though visibly wounded, asked for water and eventually left the location. Tragically, the following morning, his body was discovered at another shop nearby, called Tennessee. He was found unresponsive and motionless. A report was filed at the Bartica Police Station, and Ashby’s body was taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was officially pronounced dead.
An autopsy later confirmed that Ashby died from shock and haemorrhage due to a stab wound to the neck.
Daniels remained at large for several days before surrendering to police on January 8, 2024. Initially, he denied any involvement in Ashby’s death. However, during a caution statement, he admitted: “Officer, I did stab he but it wasn’t deep. It was a skin cut.”
In court, Daniels was represented by defence attorney Tonza Sarabo. Justice Singh, while handing down the sentence, emphasized that violence has no place in a civilized society and strongly cautioned against the reckless use of alcohol. He urged individuals to either drink in moderation or abstain completely, highlighting that irresponsible consumption often leads to avoidable tragedy.
The five-year sentence will be reduced as time served by Daniels during pre-trial custody will be deducted.