Man pleads guilty to beating teenage wife to death

Dhanraj Theophillus, 52, who is accused of killing his wife by beating her while she was just 18 in Baramita, Region One, was recently arraigned at the High Court in Demerara.

When Theophillus stood before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, he chose to enter a guilty plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter. He was initially charged with murder.

Between January 17 and 18, 2018, he unlawfully killed Lorenda Thomas, with whom he had resided at Baramita, North West District, with their young child.

Theophillus was further remanded to prison in light of his guilty plea, and he is scheduled to appear in court again on February 5, 2024, when the Judge will sentence him.

The confessed killer is being represented by defence attorney Teriq Mohammed while State Counsel Joy Williams and State Counsel Alvaro Ramotar are the prosecutors.

After a fight broke out between the couple, Thomas was assaulted.  The man approached her on January 17, 2018, as she was on her way home after seeing a friend.

She was knocked unconscious by several kicks to the abdomen delivered by Theophillus.

Thomas managed to make her way home following the incident, but on the evening of January 18, 2018, she visited the health centre due to excruciating stomach pain.

She died that same evening as arrangements were being made to have her air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment.

She died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to blunt trauma.