Machine operator gets 8 years for killing remigrant

Deonarine Seetaram, also known as “Jericho,” a 55-year -old machine operator who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the February 9, 2019 death of remigrant Mohammed Shameem Hassan, was on Monday sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Demerara High Court, after the court had been presented with probation and other social impact reports regarding Seetaram.

Seetaram had been charged with the capital offence of murder, but had opted to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter, thereby admitting to fatally stabbing Hassan on February 9, 2019 during a drinking spree at Hassan’s home.
Attorney Teriq Mohammed had represented Seetaram, while State Counsel Caressa Henry and Alvaro Ramotar had prosecuted the matter.
As far as this publication is aware, the perpetrator and the victim had been imbibing at the home of the victim, Hassan, when a pair of scissors were used to stab Hassan once in the chest.
In a caution statement he provided to the Police, Seetaram had, among other things, stated that he had gone to Hassan’s home on the day in question, and had met his father and the victim imbibing. Shortly after he had joined them, his father had asked Hassan to lend him a pair of scissors in order that he might trim his hair, and Hassan had gone upstairs and returned with a pair of red and black scissors, which he had given to his father to cut his hair. He claimed his father had cut his hair, and had then set the scissors down on the bench on which they were seated.
He said his father later left and went to a nearby shop to purchase a drink, and during that time, the victim started to curse him and tell him that he would “f*%k his wife and daughter them”. He said he became vexed, so he grabbed the scissors and “juck” Hassan.
The scissors were left in Hassan’s chest, and he was left lying motionless in the hammock. Seetaram said he became afraid and picked up his bicycle and rode home.
Hassan’s cause of death was given as perforation of the heart due to a stab wound.
Hassan had returned to Guyana from Venezuela in March 2018, after having lived there with his family for some 25 years.