Ex-con gets life imprisonment for murder of overseas-based Guyanese

A man convicted of killing an overseas-based Guyanese who had been a father of two, during a robbery in 2017, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Demerara High Court Justice Sandil Kissoon on Friday.
Following a trial, a jury had found Wayne Anthony Chester, 26, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, guilty of the capital offence of murder in relation to the death of Purcell Moore Jr, based on witnesses’ testimonies and other evidence led by the State prosecutors. That murder had occurred at Craig, EBD on December 20, 2017, less than two weeks after Moore and his wife had welcomed a new baby.

At Chester’s sentencing hearing on Friday, Justice Kissoon remarked that Moore was “brutally and ruthlessly” murdered for property he had worked hard to acquire.
According to the trial Judge, Moore, who had been in the habit of wearing gold chains, was targeted and robbed at gunpoint while he was helpless, defenseless, and unarmed. The robbery and killing was a horrendous act that had brought much pain to Moore’s family and community, Justice Kissoon highlighted.
Moore’s father, a retired Policeman, who had testified during Chester’s trial, died before the court could pass sentence on his son’s killer.

The Judge was keen to point out that, after the robbery/ murder, Chester absconded until he was detained by the Police on January 6, 2019 in relation to an armed robbery committed by a Policeman. In passing sentence, he considered, among other things, the prevalence of persons being robbed and killed for their property. In so doing, he noted that citizens must be able to go about their business without fear of being robbed or killed.
The Judge also took into consideration the fact that Chester has previously been convicted and jailed for five years for robbery under arms, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a loaded firearm with intent, and unlawful and malicious damage to property.

While Chester’s legal counsel, Adrian Thompson, had implored the court in written submissions to consider his client’s youthfulness and his capacity to be rehabilitated, Justice Kissoon said Chester’s prolonged criminal conduct paints a different picture. Although he was found guilty by a jury of his peers, the Judge noted, there was not a “shred of remorse, regret, or sympathy” from Chester for the destruction he has wreaked on a family.
The convict Wayne Anthony Chester has been sentenced to imprisonment for life, and must serve 30 years before he becomes eligible for parole. He has also been ordered to enroll in programmes offered by the prison, and has been given full credit for time spent in pre-trial custody.
Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken and State Counsel Simran Gajraj, Rbina Christmas and Cicelia Corbin prosecuted the case.
In June 2021, two men —Selwin Dawson and Kevin Persaud — were each sentenced by Justice Kissoon to life imprisonment for killing Moore. Though initially indicted for murder, the duo, both 23, had opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. They must spend 15 years in jail before being considered for parole.
In sentencing those men, Justice Kissoon had remarked, “This callous crime and course of conduct displayed by [Persaud and Dawson] must be addressed. Members of society ought to be free to move about…whether in the precinct of the business community in downtown Georgetown, in their neighbourhood, or their homes…”
Considering this, he had noted that the sentence of the court must not only fit the dastardly act committed by the duo, but also serve as a deterrent to like-minded offenders. Dawson has since filed an appeal against his sentence at the Court of Appeal of Guyana.
According to reports, Moore, who had returned to Guyana from French Guiana for the Christmas holidays, was returning to his parents’ home from a shop when he was confronted by armed men. An argument erupted between Moore and the suspects, and a scuffle resulted, during which several rounds were discharged at Moore before the men fled the scene. Chester shot Moore twice —once to the head, and once to the chest. During the ordeal, Moore, a clothes vendor, was relieved of the gold chain he was wearing. The injured Moore was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD.
In May 2019, Chester was jailed for a series of offences, including robbery under arms. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on the robbery charge, three years’ imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm, three years for possession of unlicensed ammunition, another three years for discharging a loaded firearm, and six months for damage to property. He has completed serving these concurrent sentences.
Particulars of the robbery charge had stated that on January 6, 2019, at Conciliation Drive in Tucville, Georgetown, while being in the company of another and being armed with an unlicensed gun, Chester robbed Policeman Cromwell of $512,600 in cash and jewellery. On the same date and at the same place, he also damaged car parts belonging to Cromwell, and had shot at him.