A Venezuelan national, Nestor Luis Bolivar Martinez—known as “Spanish Boy”—has confessed before the High Court that he was responsible for the unlawful killing of 21-year-old Sanjay “Drill” Hanoman during a 2020 incident on the West Coast Demerara.
Martinez, who is being represented by attorney Ronald Bostwick, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is now awaiting sentencing. The prosecution team includes attorney-at-law Christopher Belfield.
The killing occurred late on the night of October 26, 2020 at Anna Catherina.
Investigators said that an eyewitness reported seeing Martinez draw a knife and inflict a single stab wound to Hanoman’s left thigh, causing him to collapse instantly.
Martinez then left the scene on a bicycle, while relatives rushed the injured young man to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. Hanoman died shortly after 1 am the following morning.
A post-mortem conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh confirmed that the fatal wound severed major blood vessels, leading to massive internal bleeding and shock.
Additional abrasions and markings were also noted during the examination.
Police later contacted Martinez at the Leonora Police Station.
In his cautioned statement, he claimed that earlier that evening he and his wife were walking home after consuming alcohol when they were confronted by a group of men.
He said he initially left the area, but later returned alone with a knife while riding a bicycle.
According to him, he encountered only Hanoman, who allegedly struck his bicycle with a piece of wood. Martinez said he responded by cutting the young man on his leg before discarding the weapon and going home.
Martinez was first charged in April 2021 and later committed to stand trial after a magistrate ruled that a prima facie case had been established.
During this week’s High Court proceedings, the agreed facts were read and then translated into Spanish by an interpreter. Martinez confirmed that he understood the details before formally pleading guilty.
The case will return to court for sentencing, at which time the judge will assess the circumstances surrounding the killing, including any aggravating factors put forward by the prosecution and mitigation offered on Martinez’s behalf.
