British teen’s murder: Crying man sentenced to life in prison

Despite his cries for leniency, 30-year-old Staymon George was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment for the October 2015 murder of British teenager Dominic Bernard, who had travelled to Guyana to pursue his film-making career, but was later found in a shallow grave.
The sentence was imposed by High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon.

In January 2016, George, called “Sherwin,” was jointly charged with his friend Aaron Hing, called “Neutral”, 29, for the murder of 18-year-old Dominic Bernard. However, on October 4, George appeared at the Berbice High Court and pleaded guilty.
Hing, Dominic Bernard’s godbrother, pleaded not guilty to the charge, and a jury has been empanelled for his trial, which is ongoing before Justice Kissoon.
Dominic Bernard, called “Dom,” had travelled to Guyana from Epsom, England on October 14, 2015 for a three-week vacation. He was reportedly picked up from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) by his godbrother and George in a rented car. He was scheduled to fly back home on November 5, 2015. However, after he did not return home, his father Andrew Bernard contacted Hing to enquire about his son’s whereabouts.
Hing reportedly told the older Bernard he was unaware that his son was coming to Guyana. This raised suspicions, and after the father flew to Guyana, British and local law enforcement personnel were called in to investigate the teen’s disappearance.

It was reported that Dominic Bernard was bludgeoned to death hours after he landed in Guyana, and was later buried in a shallow grave in the backlands of Nurney, Corentyne, Berbice, which was dug two days prior to his arrival. His decomposed body, which was badly mutilated, was found on January 8, 2016.
A post-mortem examination revealed that the young aspiring filmmaker had been struck to the back of the head. He sustained a fractured skull as well as a broken neck. Police reportedly recovered a hammer which is believed to be one of the murder weapons.

Life cut short
Still grieving his son’s untimely demise, Andrew Bernard joined Wednesday’s sentencing hearing via Zoom from England to read his victim impact statement. “My one and only son Dominic Michael Lloyd Bernard has been laid to rest in Epsom cemetery, his life cut short at such a young age,” he cried.
The father said his late son’s middle names are taken from his grandfathers, who are both still alive. He added, “No son should die before his father, and especially not before his grandfathers; that is not the order God intended for us.”
Although Dominic Bernard turned 18 in 2015, his father said, “in my eyes he was still my baby boy, whom I had watched grow into a handsome, polite, considerate, hardworking, generous young man. His family and friends will remember him for his jokes; always making them laugh.”

Reflecting on his son’s life, the older Bernard said that his son’s fascination with film production started from his visit to America to see for himself the live inauguration of Barack Obama as US President. The father added that this momentous, history-making experience is something his son should have been able to share with his children and grandchildren.
“I watched as he progressed his film production on YouTube and the clientele he was slowly building. I was so proud of his work, and I saw his eyes light up when he would show me the finished films and I would tell him how great they were and how proud I was of him.”
Andrew Bernard said his son’s fatal trip to Guyana was to show the world another side of his heritage. “Show them how beautiful Guyana was.” But he added that little did his son know of the horror movie that had already been planned for him the day he landed in the country.
“My son’s death has left many family and friends traumatised and grieving.
“Dominic doted on his youngest sister, and her life, like ours, has been shattered from his horrific murder. Since his death, she, like many of us, have had to go through counselling and therapy sessions to overcome her anxieties and fears. The ripple effects from his horrific and depraved murder will continue to haunt us for the rest of our lives.
“Dominic’s mother and I divorced soon after his death, as the depth of depression that followed her led to the subsequent breakdown and destruction of the remaining family unit,” he related.
The father expressed that the nightmares of his son’s death will haunt him for the rest of his life, and noted that whatever sentence is imposed on George will never match the life sentence his family has received.

Tremendous guilt
“I have tremendous guilt that I was not able to rescue my son, to soothe him in his final moments. I have been unable to move on since my son’s death. I feel stuck. My son’s life was taken, and with it my hopes, dreams, and future.” Those were the words of a tearful Linda, Dominic Bernard’s mother.
She, too, read her victim impact statement from England via Zoom.
The woman said that since her son’s death, her life has been tormented with guilt.
Fighting to hold back tears, she shared, “Guilt is continual, as I should have known and sensed the danger Dominic was facing. I did not protect him. The instinct of a mother is to protect her children. I cannot convey how traumatised I am to know how Dom’s life ended and how he suffered.”
Linda disclosed that she has been diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and has been taking long-term counselling to deal with the effects of her son’s death.
The mother nevertheless stated that she is truly grateful for the 18 years she was able to spend with her son.
“I am reading this as the very proud mum of Dominic. Dom was a typical boy who enjoyed family, school, and friendships. He was mischievous, funny, and a lot of work at times too. We had a real mother/son bond, and thrived on routine. We gave him his name because its meaning is ‘given by the Lord’ and he was given to us to love and care, and now he rests with his Heavenly Father.”
Both of Dominic Bernard’s parents disclosed that he shared a close relationship with Hing.
Cold-blooded, inhumane
Justice Kissoon, in his sentencing remarks, described the teenager’s murder as “heinous, diabolical, calculated, cold-blooded, inhumane, and brutal”. The Judge said that no human being ought to be made to suffer what Dominic Bernard had to endure. He pointed out that the young man was killed by those in whom he reposed trust and confidence for his well-being.
The Judge referred to the teen as a young, talented filmmaker who travelled to Guyana with the hope of capturing, for the wider world, the beauty of the country, and to spend time with his family.
Directing his remarks at George, the Judge reminded him that he and others stole the young man’s camera equipment, money, and other belongings, and divided them among themselves.
“Yourself and others retrieved the weapons concealed by the shallow grave, including a hammer, and began to beat Dominic Bernard, attacking only the most vulnerable parts of his body…his neck, his head, severing his spinal column, inflicting multiple fractures to his skull, and then inserting a sock into his mouth to prevent his cries for help from being heard,” said Justice Kissoon as he recanted the facts.
According to the Judge, the pathologist testified that Dominic Bernard was alive at the time these injuries were inflicted upon him, and give his cause of death as subdural hematomas, a result of multiple cranial fractures compounded by a fractured spine. The Judge noted that the reverberating effects of the young man’s death have revoked havoc, destruction, and illness upon his family.
In arriving at an appropriate sentence, the Judge, among other things, considered the degree of premeditation, use of extreme violence, gravity of the injuries inflicted, the use of a weapon, the fact that multiple persons attacked the teen, and that his killing was a crime for financial gain.
While mitigating factors were presented on behalf of George, the Judge said they were not worthy of consideration, given the factual circumstances of the case, nor can they dilute the aggravating factors or be of any effect to the sentence that will be imposed by him.
According to Justice Kissoon, this crime “requires and deserves” a penalty that is severe not only to serve as a deterrent, but in light of the brutality that was meted out to a vulnerable teenager who was expecting the hospitality and kindness that is consistent with Guyanese society.
In the end, George was sentenced to life imprisonment, and becomes eligible for parole only after serving 35 years. He was given credit for the time he spent in pre-trial detention. The confessed killer, during Wednesday’s proceeding, had apologised to Dominic Bernard’s family and begged them for forgiveness.
George was represented by Attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir. Attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat was the special prosecutor in the case.
Meanwhile, Krystal Thomas, called “Kathy”, 25; Jahmeil Sinclair, called “Fross” or “Bacchus,” 24; and Sinfine Henry, called “Coreen”, 39, will be tried for accessory to murder.
It is alleged that between January 4 and 6, 2016, knowing that Hing had committed the offence of murder, they received, comforted, relieved, maintained, harboured, and assisted him. They have been each released on $300,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of their trial.