…victim’s daughter shares heartbreaking grief with court
After being found guilty of the 2018 murder of Taj Andrew Jarvis, 37-year-old Damian Bissoon, also known as “Damion Sardina” and “Brother,” was on Tuesday sentenced to 23 years in prison by Justice Damone Younge.
During the sentencing hearing at the High Court in Georgetown, Justice Younge set a starting sentence of 25 years but deducted three years for mitigating factors, while adding one year due to aggravating circumstances, resulting in a final sentence of 23 years.
On March 30, 2018, Jarvis and a friend were walking along Alexander Street, Kitty, Georgetown when they crossed Barr Street, Georgetown and were confronted by Bissoon. Bissoon demanded money from Jarvis before launching a violent attack, punching and fatally stabbing him. The victim, who was found with defensive wounds, was not the aggressor.
Dead: Taj Andrew Jarvis
Bissoon fled the scene and remained on the run for nearly four years before surrendering to the police in 2022. His initial trial in October 2024 ended in a mistrial, prompting a retrial in January 2025, during which a jury unanimously found him guilty.
Prosecutors Alvaro Ramotar and Muntaz Ali argued that the attack was senseless and unprovoked. They highlighted that even after stabbing Jarvis, Bissoon kicked him multiple times before fleeing without offering assistance. Witnesses identified Bissoon as the assailant, and forensic evidence supported the prosecution’s case.
During the hearing on Tuesday, emotional victim impact statements were read in court. Jarvis’s 15-year-old daughter, through a family member, expressed her grief, stating that her father was her best friend. She shared that she had only known him for nine years and believed her life would be better if he were still alive. She revealed that she often cried and struggled to cope with the loss, and she witnessed her grandmother’s immense pain.
Jarvis’s sister on the other hand spoke of the devastation the family endured. She recounted how their once-close-knit family had been shattered, with holidays no longer holding the same joy. She revealed that her niece had attempted self-harm due to her father’s death and expressed her strong desire for the death penalty to be imposed. She also shared how she took it upon herself to search for her brother’s killer, believing that if she had been there that day, she would have tried to save him, even at the risk of injury.
Sentenced: Damian Bissoon
Defence attorney Ronald Bostwick argued that compared to Jarvis’s life, Bissoon’s upbringing had been extremely difficult. According to a probation report, Bissoon grew up in a financially struggling household. His mother was the sole breadwinner, endured domestic violence, and faced hardships after his father left. He was unable to complete secondary school due to financial constraints.
During an interview, his mother described him as a non-aggressive person and expressed sorrow over the situation. The probation report also indicated that Bissoon maintained his innocence, stating that he did not know Jarvis and had no prior altercations with him.
A separate probation report from the Guyana Prison Service noted that while Bissoon had not participated in any rehabilitative programs, he expressed an intention to engage in anger management and other training courses. Prison staff described him as respectful, quiet, and tidy, with no documented behavioral issues.
Bostwick emphasized that Bissoon had no prior convictions and had voluntarily returned to face the charges. He urged the court to consider his age and the possibility of him rehabilitating and becoming a positive member of society. When given a chance to speak, Bissoon offered his sympathies to Jarvis’s family and pleaded for leniency.
Prosecutor, Alvaro Ramotar, however, pressed for a severe sentence, arguing that the murder was brutal and unjustifiable. He pointed out that Bissoon still refused to accept responsibility, despite witness testimonies identifying him as the perpetrator. He called for a strong sentence to serve as a deterrent for similar crimes.
Justice Younge, considering all factors, stated that Bissoon did not demonstrate genuine remorse. Consequently, she imposed a 23-year sentence.
With the case now concluded, Jarvis’s family expressed relief that justice had finally been served, though the pain of their loss remains immeasurable.
