6 years on remand: Barber walks free after being sentenced to time served for neighbour’s death

A 30-year-old barber who spent six years and six months on remand after being charged with murder was sentenced to time served by Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court on Thursday. He had pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter in connection with the 2016 fatal beating of a neighbour.

Anthony Jhaggroo, called “Sunny” and “Icky”, was initially indicted for the murder of Yugheshwar Shiwchand, also known as “Shah Rukh Khan”. He, however, admitted responsibility for his death when he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
In determining the sentence, Justice Singh started with a term of 15 years’ imprisonment, from which he deducted five years for the guilty plea, two years in consideration of the reports presented to the court and a further two years for remorse expressed by the convict.
The resulting six-year sentence was deemed served, given that Jhaggroo had already spent six years and six months in custody awaiting the conclusion of the proceedings.
Time served means Jhaggroo was not required to spend any additional time in prison, as the sentence imposed was already covered by the time he had spent on remand.
The prosecution was represented by attorney-at-law Praneta Seeraj, while attorney-at-law Mark Waldron represented Jhaggroo.
The fatal incident occurred on July 5, 2016, at Belle West, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara (WCD).
According to the agreed statement of facts, Shiwchand entered Jhaggroo’s yard between 21:00h and 22:00h while naked and proceeded up the stairs, asking for Jhaggroo’s mother and sister. He was also attempting to gain entry into the family’s home.
A scuffle subsequently developed between the two men on the veranda, during which Jhaggroo pushed Shiwchand from the veranda to the ground before chasing him out of the yard.
Jhaggroo then went to the now-deceased’s home, located at Lot 485 Belle West, and made a complaint about what had transpired before returning to his residence.
However, sometime later, Shiwchand returned to Jhaggroo’s yard and attempted to make his way up the stairs again, this time without a shirt.
In response, Jhaggroo began cuffing him to the head.
The agreed facts stated that Shiwchand fell to the ground, after which Jhaggroo stood over him, pulled him towards the concrete foundation near the stairs and repeatedly struck his head against it.
The convict’s uncle, identified as “Tall Man”, subsequently intervened and pulled him away from Shiwchand.
The injured man was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was admitted as a patient but died on July 10, 2016.
A post-mortem examination conducted on July 13, 2016, by Dr Nehaul Singh determined that the cause of death was a “subdural haematoma as a result of blunt trauma to head”.
The pathologist also documented “evidence of multiple blunt traumas to body” and noted that there were no contrecoup haemorrhages to the brain.
Jhaggroo, in a written caution statement given on July 11, 2016, admitted to cuffing Shiwchand on the night in question.
He was subsequently arrested on May 24, 2020, at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, after which he was cautioned and placed in custody at the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost.
He was admitted to prison on May 27, 2020, on the murder charge and was later committed to stand trial in the High Court on December 13, 2022.
A pre-sentence report prepared by the Guyana Probation and Welfare Service described Jhaggroo as a father of two daughters, aged five and six, who had worked as a barber before his incarceration.
The report noted that he had no previous convictions and that he had no prior involvement in criminal activity. Community investigations also described him as well-liked, respectful and helpful, with no known history of aggressive behaviour or involvement in conflicts.
While incarcerated, he participated in food safety training and assisted with cutting the hair of other inmates. Prison officers reported no complaints about his conduct, while fellow inmates described him as quiet and respectful. His prison record also contained no documented infractions.
The report, however, recommended that he be exposed to behavioural change and skills-based programmes to support his rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
“I wish I could undo what I did”
In addressing his responsibility for Shiwchand’s death, Jhaggroo expressed regret and said he wished he could have handled the confrontation differently.
“I wish I could undo what I did,” he said, according to the probation report, adding that he wanted leniency from the court so that he could remain involved in his children’s lives.
He maintained that he had been trying to get the man to leave the family’s yard and that he had not intended to kill him. He also acknowledged that he should have walked away from the confrontation.
The report further stated that he appealed to Shiwchand’s relatives for forgiveness and mercy while asking the court for a second chance.
A separate welfare report from the Guyana Prison Service also documented his conduct during incarceration, noting that he maintained contact with his mother and girlfriend, who provided emotional support.
The report indicated that he intended to return to Tain, Corentyne, Berbice, following his release.
Despite the positive findings concerning his conduct and prospects for rehabilitation, the probation officer emphasised the irreversible impact of the deceased’s death on his family.
The officer recommended that the sentence serve as a deterrent and help reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the community.