After awaiting trial for 6 years: Man gets time served for wedding house killing

Imprisoned for almost seven years awaiting trial for murder, Solomon George is now a free man after Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced him to time served, stating that his time on remand amounts to a sentence for manslaughter to which he pleaded guilty.

George, formerly of Lot 109 Murphy Street, Good Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD), who was initially indicted for the capital offence of murder over the death of tractor operator Arnold Rampersaud Rattan, pleaded guilty to the lesser offence at his arraignment last month.
The 43-year-old man died on August 8, 2016.
At the Demerara High Court on Monday where his sentencing hearing was held, George expressed that he was sorry for taking a life and begged for clemency.
“I am very sorry for whatever happened on that day. I am begging for mercy. I am a changed person,” said the convict who appeared in court via Zoom.
His lawyer, Teriq Mohammed asked the court to consider the following when passing sentence: his client’s early guilty, his prior unblemished criminal record, and that he had been taking steps in prison to rehabilitate himself by attending various classes and the prison’s church.
“He has thrown himself at the mercy of this court and has asked you to be lenient with him.”

For her part, the State prosecutor highlighted the serious nature and prevalence of the offence; and that a dangerous weapon, a knife, was used in the commissioning of the crime.
In her sentencing remarks, the Judge told George that when he committed the crime, he was of a mature age to appreciate the consequences of his actions. Among the aggravating factors considered by the Judge was that George was under the influence of alcohol.
In arriving at an appropriate sentence for the felon, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry commenced at a base of 15 years from which a one-third (five years) deduction was made for his early guilty plea, leaving 10 years. George has spent almost seven calendar years which is equivalent to 10 prison years on remand. In the circumstances, he was released on time served.
A prison year is believed to be eight months long.
It has been reported that at about 23:30h on August 8, 2016, during the “Kangan” (day after the wedding) celebration at Rattan’s home at Sister’s Village, WBD, the father of two asked Solomon to leave the premises since he began to misbehave.
However, when Solomon refused to leave, Rattan opted to push him out of the yard. It was at this point that Solomon stabbed him in the left side of his body with a sharp object.
Neighbours recalled seeing Rattan drop to his knees while Solomon fled the scene but he was subsequently caught by villagers who gave chase. The injured man was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he died while receiving treatment.
Both Rattan and George were intoxicated.
It was Rattan who was the aggressor, court documents revealed. (G1)