Man Admits to Killing ‘Beach Clothes’

Elroy Withrite, also known as “Eddie,” pled guilty to the murder of 43-year-old Andrew Drakes, known as “Beach Clothes,” following a violent altercation in Farm, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The 25-year-old Withrite appeared before Justice Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Demerara High Court, where his sentencing was deferred to October 15, 2024, pending a mental health evaluation.

Dead: Andrew Drakes

The deadly incident occurred on June 8, 2019, after an earlier conflict between Withrite and Drakes, who were neighbours.

According to witnesses, screams were heard from Pump Station Street in Farm, EBE, where Drakes was later found lying in a pool of blood with multiple chop wounds.

Withrite, discovered at the scene holding a cutlass, later confessed to the crime in a written statement to police. He alleged that Drakes had sexually assaulted him on June 7, 2019, which led to the fatal attack the following day, while Drakes was seated on a bench outside his home.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Drakes died from haemorrhage and shock caused by eight severe incised wounds.

Withrite is being represented by attorney Kezia Williams, while State Counsel Alvaro Ramotar is prosecuting the case