“Blackboy” to serve 7 years for killing drinking buddy

A 40-year-old man, Naresh Baldeo, called “Blackboy”, has been sentenced to seven years and three months’ imprisonment for the 2017 killing of his drinking buddy, Mohabeer Gangadeen, whom he had lashed about the body with a spade during an argument.

On June 5, Baldeo, formerly of Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was arraigned before Essequibo High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds, indicted for the August 12, 2017 murder of Gangadeen, a miner.
However, on Thursday, he threw himself at the mercy of the court, pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, admitting that he carried out the killing in the Potaro Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
After considering the circumstances of the case, aggravating and mitigating factors, the presiding Judge imposed the aforementioned custodial sentence, directing the penal institution to give the convict full credit for the time he spent in custody awaiting trial.
Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken appeared on behalf of the prosecution while Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Dindayal represented the now-convicted man.
Police Headquarters had said that the men were at a dredge in Potaro Backdam consuming High Wine and vodka when an argument ensued. Gangadeen had reportedly accused Baldeo and another employee of stealing gold from the dredge.

As a result, the men got into a heated argument during which Gangadeen picked up a spade and dealt Baldeo several lashes to his face and hand.
According to reports, Baldeo overpowered Gangadeen and took away the spade, with which he then dealt the now dead man several lashes about his body.