Carpenter pleads guilty to murder of Berbice supermarket owner

Satesh Ramnerish

A 39-year-old carpenter has pleaded guilty to the murder of 69-year-old Akbar Sain, the former owner of a supermarket in Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice.
Satesh Ramnerish appeared before Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty at the Berbice High Court in New Amsterdam on Tuesday, where he admitted to killing Sain on October 18, 2023.

By pleading guilty, Ramnerish waived his right to a jury trial, which under Guyanese law would have presumed him innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ramnerish, who has six children, was represented by Attorney-at-Law Sasha Roberts.
State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards presented the facts of the case, explaining that the two men had known each other for several years prior to the incident.

According to the prosecution, Ramnerish forcibly broke open the metal and glass doors of Sain’s supermarket and entered the premises.
During a confrontation, Sain struck Ramnerish on the head with a piece of wood. Ramnerish allegedly retaliated by striking Sain on the head, causing him to collapse and bleed profusely. He then hid on the property’s verandah.
Medical reports confirmed that Sain died from bruises and lacerations to the face, a fractured skull, shock, and cerebral haemorrhage.

Justice Kumar-Chetty has scheduled sentencing for March 5, 2026.
The court also ordered that several documents be submitted by February 25, including a probation report, a prison conduct report, details of aggravating and mitigating factors, a victim impact statement, and written submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.