Life sentences for farmer who murdered hotelier, watchman

By Feona Morrison

A farmer has been condemned to life in prison without the possibility of release for the murder of two men whose decomposing bodies were discovered at the Sun Splash Hotel, Number 63 Village, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) in December 2019.
Alvin Drugean, 50, called “Alvin Bhola” and “Blacka”, of Number 65 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court earlier this month and pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, putting himself at the mercy of the court.
Between December 19 and December 27, 2019, he murdered Canada-based Guyanese Vivekanand Narpatty, 71, the owner of the Sun Splash Hotel, and 59-year-old Harry Prashad, a watchman.

Contract killing

In his sentencing statement, Judge Kissoon said Drugean and other individuals had planned and executed the “cold, cruel, heartless, and sadistic murders” of the two elderly men.
According to the Judge, Drugean told investigators that he was hired by Narpatty’s brother to kill him and he was given $100,000 up front with the remaining $900,000 to be paid later. Justice Kissoon noted that the murderer was never given the balance.
Given this, the Judge determined that there was enough evidence to have Narpatty’s brother extradited from the United States of America to face prosecution here. In the end, Drugean was given life sentences for both counts of murder. In addition, the Judge made an order that prevented him from being eligible for parole.

Impact statements
Narpatty’s wife and daughter Ebony had pleaded with the Judge to order the execution of their loved one’s killer. They had done so while reading their victim impact statements. They declared that his legacy would endure and characterised him as a kind and giving businessman.
His daughter stated that hatred, rage, and envy were the main causes of her father’s death.
Narpatty’s daughter demanded in her impact statement that the inquiries into her father’s passing be revived in order to bring the mastermind to justice.
“I am very educated. I have a business master’s degree and three-time Police training in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and a postgraduate in law. How come I never have access to my late father’s murder case file? … I feel like a major piece is missing from my life and I don’t know how to recover from it. Regardless of whatever sentence occurs today, I must repeat this is a very huge loss towards Guyana, and it should be ashamed of what took place here today,” the daughter added.

Disappointed
The trial Judge flatly rejected Ebony’s attempts to impugn the Guyanese legal system and other State agencies, such as the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Justice Kissoon told the woman that she could not use an impact statement to “vomit on every office within a nation state when sitting from afar”.
The High Court Judge remarked: “I am disappointed that that is going to be used to attack this nation, its leaders’ offices of every department and institution with a brush that they are unworthy and undeserving of. And what is being used as justification for uttering these statements are a series of qualifications that the speaker deems entitles her to form these opinions to arrive at these conclusions and to impose them upon these proceedings.”

“Sorry fuh everything”
When asked by the Judge if he had anything to say before he imposed sentencing, Drugean replied, “Sorry fuh everything wuh happen and I’m asking the court to be lenient with me.”
Drugean was represented by Attorney-at-Law Surihya Sabsook while the prosecution’s case was presented by State Counsel Muntaz Ali.

Decomposed remains
It was reported that Narpatty owned and resided at the Sun Splash Holiday Beach Resort located at Lot 110 Number 63 Village, Region Six.
However, on Friday, December 27, 2019, about 11:20h, the bodies of the two men were discovered on the second flat, in the balcony area of the hotel.
Guyana Times was told that relatives visited the resort after several telephone calls to the overseas-based Guyanese had gone unanswered.
According to a relative, upon arrival, persons were greeted by a stench coming from the building, and this prompted them to call the Police.
The body of Narpatty, who had arrived in Guyana on December 16, 2019, was found with two toes from his left foot severed; and Prashad was found with both hands tied behind his back onto a post on the balcony, and his left foot was severed at the ankle.
Investigators concluded that the men had been tortured before being killed.
In May 2019, Narpatty had reported that he had been robbed on several occasions, including once at knifepoint, when he came to Guyana.
Previously, he had reported that he was robbed more than 10 times while visiting Guyana between 2015 and 2019.
Over 18 years ago, he opened the Sun Splash Hotel and Resort, but the business never did well. He subsequently closed operations and went to Canada, but returned to Guyana frequently. While in his homeland, he usually opened the place for business.

Four years
In June of this year, a man who was a juvenile when he killed Narpatty and Prashad was sentenced to serve four years in custody after pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
This is in addition to a series of rehabilitative orders imposed by Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall.
In accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, notwithstanding that he was now an adult, he is afforded certain protections because he committed the crime while he was a juvenile.
As such, his name, address, other particulars, and photographs cannot be published.
After he completes serving the sentence, the young man will be placed on probation for three years, during which he has to report to the Chief Probation Officer monthly.
In addition to this, he has to inform the Chief Probation Officer of any changes to his address and can leave the country only if he gets permission from the court. The Judge told the man that after he is released from prison, he must try to find gainful employment.
She also placed him on a bond to keep the peace and to be of good behaviour while on probation, and to perform community service for one hour weekly, for six months.
Noncompliance with these orders would permit the State to make an application to have his sentence reviewed with the intention of changing same.