Wortmanville man admits to 2022 fatal stabbing
March 10 2026
A Georgetown man accused of the 2022 killing of 40-year-old Aubrey Baird admitted to the lesser offence of manslaughter when he appeared before the Demerara High Court.
The accused, 50-year-old Brian Matterson of Wortmanville, entered the plea before Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh.
This was after the State indicated it would not proceed with the murder charge. State Counsel Geneva Wills is leading the prosecution.
According to the prosecution’s summary of facts, Matterson and Baird were among a group of individuals when the two became involved in a verbal dispute that turned physical.
During the confrontation, Baird reportedly struck Matterson twice. The court heard that Matterson then armed himself with a knife and stabbed Baird twice.
A post-mortem later determined that perforation of the heart caused Baird’s death.
Justice Singh subsequently ordered the preparation of a probation report and a victim impact statement to assist with sentencing.
Both documents are to be submitted on or before March 10. Sentencing is scheduled for March 16 at 09:00h.
Police reports had indicated that the incident occurred shortly after 21:00h in Wortmanville. Eyewitnesses claimed an argument broke out between the two men, during which Baird punched Matterson in the face.
Matterson reportedly rode away on a bicycle but later returned after being encouraged by others to “properly represent himself.”
Upon his return, he allegedly confronted Baird and stabbed him in the chest. Baird collapsed and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Matterson was reportedly beaten by residents following the attack before being taken into custody.
At the time, Baird’s wife said she hurried to the scene after hearing the disturbance, only to find her husband motionless.
The court also heard that Matterson had previously appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in 2019 on an attempted murder charge.
This stemmed from a separate incident involving his neighbour, Ronald Bettencourt.
Police alleged that he armed himself with a knife and repeatedly stabbed Bettencourt at the man’s yard. Bettencourt was hospitalised and remained a patient at the time.
Matterson was not required to plead to that indictable charge and had been remanded to prison, with bail refused.
