A Georgetown man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the 2022 fatal stabbing of 30-year-old Aubrey Baird.
Brian Matterson, 32, of Wortmanville, entered the plea before Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court after the State announced it would no longer pursue the murder charge.
State Prosecutor Geneva Wills is handling the prosecution.
Court documents reveal that Matterson and Baird were part of a group when a verbal disagreement escalated into a physical altercation.
During the confrontation, Baird reportedly struck Matterson twice. The court heard that Matterson then armed himself with a knife and stabbed Baird twice in the chest.
A post-mortem later confirmed that Baird died from a perforation of the heart.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after 21:00h in Wortmanville. Witnesses said Baird punched Matterson during the argument.
Matterson initially rode away on a bicycle but returned after being encouraged by bystanders to “properly represent himself.” Upon returning, he confronted Baird and stabbed him.
Residents reportedly beat Matterson before police took him into custody.
Baird’s wife recounted that she arrived at the scene after hearing the commotion, only to find her husband unresponsive.
During proceedings, Acting Chief Justice Singh ordered the preparation of a probation report and a victim impact statement to assist with sentencing, with both to be submitted by March 10.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 16 at 09:00h.
Matterson also has a prior record of violence, having previously been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing his neighbour, Ronald Bettencourt, during a separate incident.
