“Smokey” pleads guilty in chopping death of neighbour

Meignauth Premraj, also known as “Smokey”, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing his neighbour Mark Griffith, called “Rancher”, when he appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Berbice on Tuesday.
Originally indicted for the capital offence of murder, Premraj opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter at his arraignment. He has been remanded, and his sentencing hearing has been set for November 9.
Premraj is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Surihya Sabsook, while State Counsel Muntaz Ali is the prosecutor.
The deceased, 40-year-old Mark Griffith, formerly of Lot 49 Smithfield, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), died on January 17, 2021. Premraj and the late Griffith had been known to each other, as they would normally consume alcohol together, according to the statement of agreed facts.
On January 17, 2021, Premraj was seen standing on a bridge stabbing away at Griffith.
“The accused was told to desist by everyone present, and he ignored their calls and continued (stabbing). The deceased was seen in the trench with blood about his body. At the time, the deceased was not seen with any weapons,” the agreed statement of facts said.
During the incident, the deceased was also heard using explicit language to Premraj.
Later that day, the Police went to Premraj’s home, where they informed him that he was wanted for murdering Griffith. They told him of the allegation and administered the caution. He responded, “Officer, Rancher disrespectful; he disrespected me”.
Premraj was arrested and taken to the Central Police Station. The next day, Police ranks escorted Premraj to the scene of the incident, where the murder weapon, a knife, was retrieved. Then Premraj participated in a video and audio interview with the Police, during which he explained his role in the crime and elected to give a written caution statement.
He told the Police that he and Griffith had begun arguing, and he decided to go by his aunt. Whilst locking up his gate, Griffith approached him and started lashing him with a cutlass, and punched him. He recalled that he took the knife which he had and stabbed Griffith, and later ran away to his aunt’s home.
Premraj was subsequently taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was medically examined by a doctor, who found no sign of trauma/violence on him.
Griffith was also taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His cause of death was given as shock and haemorrhage due to a stab wound to the chest.