West Ruimveldt man released for 2012 killing of Venezuelan miner

Leroy Semple, 41, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was on Thursday sentenced to time served for the March 11, 2012 unlawful killing of Venezuelan miner Jose Lamon Valenzuela.
Initially indicted for the capital offence of murder, Semple opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter following his appearance before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court.
Semple, then 33, was charged on March 21, 2012, for the killing.
According to reports, Valenzuela was killed between March 10 and 11, 2012. He was found dead on a playfield at Mabaruma, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini).
It was reported that Valenzuela travelled frequently to and from Venezuela and, on his last visit, he had returned to Guyana with a quantity of raw gold. However, he was last seen consuming alcohol with Semple after which he was found dead by a security guard on the playground.
Following his guilty plea, Semple was sentenced to time served while awaiting trial. He had already spent eight years in jail.
Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay represented Semple while the State was represented by Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker.