Fisherman jailed for 10 years over death of neighbour

A 25-year-old fisherman from Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, has been sentenced to a decade in prison after admitting to the manslaughter of his neighbour, Noel Singh, in a 2019 altercation. Originally charged with murder, Ramesh Ramdeen pleaded guilty to the reduced charge and accepted responsibility for Singh’s death on October 20, 2019.
During the sentencing at the Demerara High Court, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow directed that the time Ramdeen spent in custody since his arrest on October 28, 2019, be deducted from his sentence.
The incident unfolded around 18:40h on October 20, 2019when a heated argument between the two men escalated. Singh, a 27-year-old fisherman, reportedly attacked Ramdeen with a cutlass, striking him multiple times. Ramdeen retaliated by stabbing Singh with a knife before pushing him into a nearby gutter outside Singh’s home in Meten-Meer-Zorg. The knife used in the attack was reportedly retrieved from Singh’s own pocket.

Singh was later found in the gutter by bystanders who summoned emergency services, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be stab wounds that perforated Singh’s heart. Authorities apprehended Ramdeen two days later in Parika, East Bank Essequibo, where he confessed to the crime in a detailed statement to the police.
At the sentencing hearing, state prosecutors Praneta Seeraj, Mikel Puran, and Rabina Christmas outlined the circumstances of the case, emphasising the tragic outcome of the altercation. Meanwhile, a probation officer’s report indicated that Ramdeen expressed remorse, claiming that he acted in self-defense after Singh attacked him.

Defense attorney Kiswana Jefford pleaded for leniency, pointing to Ramdeen’s acceptance of responsibility and his potential for rehabilitation due to his young age. Ramdeen, appearing virtually, apologized to the court and Singh’s family, tearfully begging for forgiveness.
Justice Barlow acknowledged the mitigating factors, including Ramdeen’s remorse, cooperation with the authorities, and favorable probation and prison reports. She noted that evidence suggested Singh may have been the aggressor and potentially under the influence of alcohol at the time, as indicated by the strong scent of alcohol found in the autopsy. The judge also cited the troubling trend of violent confrontations in her sentencing remarks.
The judge began with a base sentence of 18 years but deducted three years in light of mitigating factors. An additional five years were removed due to Ramdeen’s early guilty plea, resulting in a final sentence of 10 years.
As part of the sentence, Justice Barlow mandated that Ramdeen participate in educational and vocational training, as well as behaviour modification programs, to support his reintegration into society upon release.
Singh’s sister described him as a kind and hardworking individual, calling for justice for her brother. (G9)