25-Y-O bus conductor found guilty of manslaughter in fatal stabbing of fruit vendor

A 25-year-old bus conductor was on Tuesday convicted of manslaughter over the fatal stabbing of a fruit vendor at Stabroek Market, Georgetown.

Timothy McKenzie, who was initially indicted for murdering Richard Noel on June 4, 2018, was found guilty of the lesser offence when the 12-member jury returned its verdict at the Demerara High Court.

Richard Noel

Throughout his trial, McKenzie, formerly of Kitty, Georgetown, was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Ronald Daniels and Kiswana Jefford while State Counsel Muntaz Ali led the case for the prosecution.

In light of the guilty verdict, trial Judge Sandil Kissoon further remanded McKenzie to prison until November 3 for a sentencing hearing.

Noel, called ‘Nippo,’ 20, formerly of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown was stabbed once in the chest during the encounter with McKenzie.

It was reported that the duo got into a fight over a woman.

An injured Noel was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he died the same day while receiving treatment.