“Spanish Boy” pleads guilty to manslaughter in 2020 fatal stabbing

Nestor Luis Bolivar Martinez, called “Spanish Boy”, on Wednesday pleaded guilty in the High Court to manslaughter for the 2020 killing of 21-year-old Sanjay “Drill” Hanoman at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. Martinez, who was represented by attorney Ronald Bostwick, will be sentenced at a later date.
According to the prosecution’s agreed facts, the incident occurred on the night of October 25, 2020, at around 23:30h. An eyewitness told investigators that Martinez pulled a knife from his waist and stabbed Hanoman once in the outer left thigh, causing him to collapse on the spot. Martinez then rode away on a bicycle.
Relatives of the injured man were alerted, and Hanoman was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at 1:10h on October 26.
A post-mortem examination conducted on October 27, 2020, by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh found that Hanoman died from haemorrhage and shock due to a stab wound to the left thigh. The wound, which measured 6×1×9 cm, severed multiple vessels and contained approximately 800 cubic centimetres of collected blood. The autopsy also documented abrasions to the arms, wrists, left kneecap, and fingernail-like impressions on the forearm.
Police contacted Martinez at the Leonora Police Station on October 26 and cautioned him about the allegation. In his statement, he claimed that he was walking home with his wife after drinking Banko and XL when four individuals allegedly “troubled” them. Martinez said his wife held his hand and encouraged him to go home, which they did.

However, he admitted that he later returned alone, armed with a knife and riding a bicycle. According to him, only Hanoman was still present, and the young man struck his bicycle with a piece of wood. Martinez said he then removed the knife from his pocket and cut Hanoman on his foot/thigh before discarding the weapon, returning home, showering, and going to bed.
Martinez was charged on April 7, 2021, before Magistrate Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrates’ Court with manslaughter, contrary to Section 94 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. A prima facie case was later established, and he was committed to stand trial in the High Court.
During this week’s hearing, the agreed facts were read aloud and then interpreted in Spanish for Martinez by a certified interpreter. Martinez indicated that he understood and accepted the contents before formally entering his guilty plea.
The case is expected to return to court at a later date, when the High Court will impose a sentence after considering the facts of the killing and mitigation submissions by attorney Ronald Bostwick.