Georgetown: A mentally ill man who pleaded guilty to hammering his mother to death seven years ago at their Sand Creek Rupununi home was sentenced to 12 years for the offence Tuesday.
Having suffered from prolonged mental illness, 39-year-old Adrian McKenzie still thinks his mother is alive even after pleading guilty for the November 16, 2010 murder of his mother Ethel Andrew.
He pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter before Justice James Bovell-Drakes at the High Court in Georgetown.
According to reports, the man who was 32 years of age at the time was arrested hours after he had allegedly beaten his 62-year-old mother to death with a hammer.
Based on reports, McKenzie went home in a rage and was involved in an argument with his grandfather when his mother intervened. A heated argument ensued among the three during which McKenzie dealt his mother a lash in the head with a hammer.
Government Psychiatrist Dr. Bhiro Harry, who evaluated McKenzie prior to him being sentenced, told the court that the man still believes that his mother is alive although she died seven years ago. According to Dr. Harry, McKenzie has a history of mental illness but was mentally fit when he pleaded guilty to the offence.
But despite his challenging mental state, a prison officer told the court that McKenzie is a model prisoner who would attend church regularly. The prison officer said that McKenzie has a passive personality and has been displaying abnormal behaviour during his incarceration.
The probation officer testified that McKenzie left school after failing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). She, however, said that he became a certified electrician having attended vocational training. The killer, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay, was very remorseful.
He apologized for his dreadful act and requested to be taken to another prison since he needs some “space.” McKenzie, who was recently diagnosed with epilepsy, will be seen by Dr. Harry twice monthly during his time in prison. The state was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Mandel Moore and Orinthia Schmidt.
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