Essequibo man gets life sentence for killing vendor during home invasion

– victim’s daughter calls killer a “ruthless monster”

By Feona Morrison

Declaring that members of society must be free to go about their business and to be in their homes without the fear of being robbed or killed, Justice Sandil Kissoon on Friday sentenced a felon to life imprisonment for killing another man during a violent home invasion.

He was at the time presiding in the case of The State vs Norlando Brown. Twenty-nine-year-old Brown, formerly of Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast, was indicted for the capital offence of murder before Justice Kissoon at the High Court in Essequibo. The indictment read that Brown murdered Shawn Munilall, 48, on January 10, 2020 during the course/ furtherance of a robbery.
Brown, however, opted to plead guilty midway through his trial, when the prosecution had already called some 12 witnesses.
The dead man’s daughter, Vidya Munilall, in her impact statement, expressed that there are no words to describe how her father’s death has impacted her and the rest of her family. “It has turned my life upside down”, she said as she stood in the witness box fighting to hold back tears.
The young woman described her father as her hero and a wonderful man, adding that he was the greatest person to her, although he was not perfect. She shared that her late father believed in helping others, was hardworking, and had a smile that would light up the entire room.
She added, “I’m a broken person who has lost every sense of normality. Norlando Brown stole not only the life of my father, but the normality and stability and ability to sleep of an entire family. At the time of my father’s death, I watched him take his last breath, and I couldn’t do anything to save him. I now have to face the world without the love and care of my father.”
According to her, her dad was not there to witness her graduation from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), neither would he be there to see her graduate from the University of Guyana (UG), and to witness her marry and have his grandchildren.
While she urged the court to impose a “strict sentence” on Brown, whom she called a “ruthless monster”, she pointed out that a life sentence would not bring her father back.
While delivering a plea in mitigation on Brown’s behalf, Attorney-at-Law Damien DaSilva said that prior to killing Munilall, his client had an unblemished criminal record.
Highlighting the contents of Brown’s probation report, DaSilva submitted that his client’s family members as well as persons in his neighbourhood have described him as quiet and hardworking.
“Essentially, he grew up in the church. Because of his previous background, he has the capacity of being reformed,” counsel added as he urged the Judge to consider the principles of sentencing.
“The sentence imposed ought to reflect an emphasis on rehabilitation,” he pleaded.
According to him, Brown’s prison report details that his demeanour has been satisfactory, and this shows that he can be rehabilitated into society to make a meaningful contribution.
When asked by the presiding Judge if he had anything to say before sentence was passed, the convict, who appeared in court virtually, stood and begged the dead man’s family for forgiveness.
“I would like to say to the family of Shawn Munilall that I am so sorry for their loss. And I also want them to know that I wasn’t the one who shoot their loved one. I am begging for their forgiveness; I am begging the court also for forgiveness. I am not a person to get involved in criminal activities,” he stated before going on to claim that his involvement in the crime was a result of him being “tricked” by his friends.
In delivering his sentencing remarks, Justice Kissoon was keen to note that the vendor was brutally murdered — shot down and riddled with bullets by Brown and his accomplices.
Based on the evidence, he pointed out, the robbery was premeditated and meticulously carried out. Adding that Munilall was killed in the presence of his family members at his home, where he should have been the safest, the Judge alluded to the prevalence of killings during armed robberies, and noted that it remains of grave concern to the court and citizens alike.
As such, he asserted that the court would not turn a blind eye to this occurrence, and stated that members of society must be free to go about their business and to be in their homes without fear of being robbed or killed.
“This offence remains of utmost concern, as community after community within our nation is confronted with violent, brutal murders in an unparalleled and unprecedented wave of robberies with violence, resulting in killings creating a greater alarm (that) requires urgent condign sentences to bring an end to such violent criminal conduct.”
Considering the factual circumstances of the case, the plea in mitigation on Brown’s behalf, and the serious nature of the offence, he underscored that an appropriate punishment for this heinous act is life imprisonment, and not a definitive term of years. The Judge also made it clear that there were no extenuating circumstances.
In sentencing the killer, he referred to Section 100 (1) (c) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, which stipulates a sentence of death or life in prison for any murder committed during the course of a robbery. The Act also mandates that where a life sentence is passed, the court shall specify a period, being not less than 20 years, which the felon must serve before qualifying for parole.
This convict must serve a minimum of 30 years before he is considered eligible for parole. From this tariff, the prison was ordered to deduct the time Brown spent on remand awaiting trial. He was initially charged with the crime on January 28, 2020, and was remanded to prison.
Justice Kissoon further ordered that, during his incarceration, Brown must attend vocational and other educational programmes to aid in his rehabilitation.
The State was represented by Attorney-at-Law Taneisha Saygon, while Brown was represented by defence attorney Damien DaSilva.

Background
Munilall, also called “Chunnilall” and “Paperman,” was killed during the course or furtherance of a robbery at his Parcel 61 Queenstown, Essequibo Coast home.
Reports are that the man was in front of his yard, having a barbeque with his family when three men – one armed with a handgun and another with a cutlass – scaled the fence to gain entry to his residence.
The armed men attacked Munilall’s wife Rita, who was at the front door of the house. Upon seeing this, Munilall confronted the perpetrators, but the gunman opened fire on him, shooting him four times about his body.
The trio then made good their escape, while the injured man was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Initially, Brown, Delhoya McKenzie, Carlton Carter, Carl Michael Carter, and John Li were charged with murdering Munilall; but, shortly after, the State withdrew the charge against the quintet and instituted a new charge against Brown, his wife Pamela Joseph, and Li.
On April 13, 2021, Magistrate Esther Sam ruled that a prima facie case had been made out against Brown only, and as such, she committed him to stand trial for the capital offence.
As it relates to Joseph and Li, the case against them was thrown out after the Magistrate found that there was insufficient evidence against them to warrant a committal.