Convict in wedding house killing appeals conviction, sentence

After being convicted and sentenced for the lesser count of manslaughter late last month, 38-year-old Rajen Dindial formerly of Lot 653 Section C Block Y, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) has moved to the Appeal Court, challenging his recent conviction and sentence.

Dindial was found guilty of manslaughter whilst on trial at the High Court for the September 3, 2017, Sarron Street Grove, EBD, murder of 25-year-old Alston Henry. He was subsequently sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.
However, in his appeal application, the convict, through his attorney, Nigel Hughes, argued that the presided Judge erred in some areas during the summing up aspects of his trial.
Court documents revealed that the appeal was filed on the grounds that the trial Judge erred in law when she failed to direct the jury to completely disregard the contents of the confession statement after it had been read to the jury and subsequently withdrawn from the jury.
This is in addition to Dindial arguing that the Judge erred when she failed to withdraw the case from the jury after reversing her decision to permit the caution statement into the evidence and the only implicating evidence was manifestly unreliable and the sentence being too excessive.
These are the grounds among others. Previous reports have revealed that Henry was at a wedding house with Dindial’s relatives when an argument ensued between the duo.
The now-dead man started to act in a disorderly manner and threw down a portable toilet that was on the property where the wedding was being kept.
As such, the convict picked up a dabla (large wooden spoon) and dealt Henry several blows about his body.
The man fell unconscious but was however picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
As such, the Dindial was later taken into Police custody where he was later charged with the offence.