Berbice men jailed for manslaughter, attempted murder

Two men who had previously pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter were on Wednesday sentenced to a total of 20 years’ imprisonment.
27-year-old Gopaul Sewsankar, called ‘Romel’, of Yakusari North, Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), who unlawfully killed his younger brother Vishal Sahora in March 2017,
was sentenced to nine years and two months’ imprisonment when the February session of the Berbice Criminal Assizes continued on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Vishal was stabbed after the two brothers were imbibing.
Reports in 2017 were that Sewsankar had asked to borrow Sahora’s motorcycle, but the younger brother had refused his request and an argument and fight ensued, during which the teenager was stabbed to the chest.
Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall presided over the trial.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old Stanley Edwards, called ‘Buckman’, unlawfully killed 40-year-old Sahadeo Sankar, a fisherman of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne on January 3, 2018.
He was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment for the offence.
The State’s case was presented by Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy, and the accused was represented by defence counsel Sureiyah Sabsook.
Sankar’s lifeless body was discovered in front of a grocery store in the area after he was allegedly beaten to death by Edwards. They were earlier imbibing alcohol together when an argument erupted.
State Prosecutor Hardy told the court that, on the day in question, the two men were involved in a fight and Sankar fell to the ground. Edwards took the opportunity to stamp him and then went to the Police.

Attempted murder
Also being sentenced on Wednesday was Leroy La Fleur, called “Devon”, 24, of Calabash Creek, Canje River. He received a sentence of six years 11 months for attempted murder.
On September 11, 2011, La Fleur attempted to kill Suraj Azeez, called “Collie Boy”, 32, of Canje River.
La Fleur, a farmer, and Azeez had an ongoing dispute, and on September 11, 2011, Azeez was at the estate pump at Calabash Creek up the Canje River catching fish with some other persons when he was chopped.
At the time, Azeez told investigators, he felt a chop across his right hand, and upon looking around, he saw the accused with a cutlass in his hands. The accused began chopping him about his body while threatening to kill him. According to the Prosecutor, the victim received injuries to his face, left arm and left leg.
Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, while noting that the injuries were not life- threatening, noted that they could have serious long-term effects on the victim. (G4)