“Brukup” appeals life sentence for nightclub murder

A 32-year-old mason, who was earlier this year sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Sunil Singh, who was knifed to death during a row outside the Blue Martini Nightclub in 2017, has now moved to the Court of Appeal (COA) to challenge the sentence.

Shawn Harris, called “Shawny” or “Brukup,” formerly of Lot 40 Bougainvillea Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Lot 131 Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was sentenced by High Court Judge, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow after a 12-member jury found him guilty of murder.
Harris, a father of three, was handed a life sentence with the possibility of being eligible for parole after serving 20 years. However, in his appeal, he is contending that the conviction cannot stand given the lack of evidence during the trial.
He further argues that his sentence is excessive and severe in all the circumstances of the case.
It was alleged that on February 5, 2017, he unlawfully killed Singh, also known as “Grey.”
Guyana Times had previously reported that Singh was fatally stabbed in the nightclub when he attempted to rescue an employee who was being attacked by three men.
The men attempted to enter the premises after closing hours but were informed by the bartender that they could not enter. This led to an argument, and during the subsequent altercation, the now convicted man whipped out a knife, stabbing the employee, which led to Singh intervening. Singh, in the process of assisting the employee, hit Harris, who turned around and stabbed him about his body.
Singh was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and was pronounced dead on arrival.
Harris was also charged, along with three others, in connection with the Bank of Baroda robbery committed at its Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) branch on January 22, 2016.