A 27-year-old Venezuelan national, Nestor Luis Bolivar Martinez, was released from custody on Friday following a ruling by Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court. Martinez had been serving a sentence for the manslaughter of 21-year-old Sanjay Hanoman, also from Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
Martinez was charged in connection with a fatal stabbing incident on October 25, 2020. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that an argument between Martinez and Hanoman escalated late at night. Eyewitnesses testified that Martinez stabbed Hanoman in the outer left thigh with a knife, causing him to collapse. Despite being rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, Hanoman succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight on October 26. A post-mortem examination confirmed that death resulted from haemorrhage and shock caused by the stab wound.
In sentencing, Justice Singh initially established a base term of 18 years in prison, citing the severity of the crime. However, several mitigating factors were considered, including Martinez’s guilty plea, which spared the victim’s family from the trauma of a full trial.
The court deducted one-third of the sentence due to the guilty plea, reduced an additional four years based on favorable reports from probation and prison welfare officials, and granted two more years off for Martinez’s expression of remorse. Additionally, three years were removed after the court found that Hanoman had contributed to the altercation. Ultimately, Martinez’s sentence was reduced to three years.
However, as he had already been on remand since 2020, Justice Singh ruled that the time served was sufficient, leading to Martinez’s immediate release.
A detailed probation report presented by Officer U. John provided background on Martinez, highlighting his upbringing in Venezuela, education, and prior employment with the Venezuelan Army. After migrating to Guyana in 2018 in search of better opportunities, Martinez worked locally before his incarceration. He is also a father of two children living in Venezuela whom he had financially supported prior to being jailed.
While in prison, Martinez reportedly incurred minor infractions but was largely compliant with the rules. Notably, he did not participate in any rehabilitation programs during his time in custody.
The family of the deceased, Sanjay Hanoman, described him as a friendly individual who was not known for being involved in conflicts. His parents expressed the profound emotional toll his death has taken on their family, emphasizing the traumatic nature of the incident.
Martinez has expressed remorse for his actions, stating that the stabbing was not intentional and acknowledging the pain inflicted on Hanoman’s family.
As the community reflects on the consequences of the act, the case serves as a somber reminder of the tragic outcomes that can arise from conflicts.
