An Essequibo High Court judge has sentenced 32-year-old Addisena Benjamin to 20 years in prison for the 2019 murder of Solomon Lewis, the Toshao (village leader) of Kurutuku Village, Region Seven.

The sentencing follows Benjamin’s guilty plea to the capital offence of murder, which stemmed from a violent domestic dispute on January 1, 2019. According to court proceedings, the incident unfolded after Benjamin assaulted Sarah Lewis, the daughter of the Toshao and his romantic partner. When Solomon Lewis intervened to protect his daughter, a heated confrontation erupted. During the altercation, Benjamin armed himself with a cutlass and struck Lewis on the shoulder, inflicting injuries that ultimately proved fatal.

Lewis was rushed for medical attention but succumbed to his wounds. A post-mortem examination revealed that he died from septic shock due to the multiple injuries sustained during the attack. In the same violent episode, Benjamin also attacked and injured Lewis’s son, Marvin Lewis.

During the sentencing hearing, Benjamin’s attorney highlighted his early guilty plea and the time he had already spent in custody since his arrest over five years ago, arguing these factors demonstrated remorse and cooperation with the judicial process. However, the prosecution emphasized the brutality of the attack, the vulnerability of the 52-year-old victim, and the impact on the indigenous community.

In delivering the sentence, Justice Navindra Singh acknowledged the mitigating factors but determined that the severity of the crime warranted a substantial custodial sentence. Benjamin’s 20-year term will be reduced by the time already served on remand.

The case has resonated deeply in the Kurutuku community and beyond, underscoring the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the critical role of indigenous leaders in Guyana’s hinterland regions.