Man appealing death sentence for killing of taxi driver to know fate soon

Burt Lancaster, who eight years ago was found guilty of the April 2006 murder of taxi driver Deonarine Sookdeo, is expected to know his fate soon, when the Court of Appeal hands down its judgment in a challenge he mounted against his conviction and sentence.

Convicted: Burt Lancaster

Arguments in the case have been concluded in that court, and its judgment has been reserved.
Sookdeo died between April 19 and 26, 2006. According to reports, on April 19, 2006, Lancaster and his co-worker, Daywan ‘Avinash’ Kawal, left work at around midday, and went to Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara. While there, they hired a taxi to take them to Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. Sookdeo, the driver of that taxi, stopped at a gas station, where he was attacked and robbed by the passengers.
It was reported that Lancaster, Kawal and two of their workmates requested to be taken up a trail at Kuru Kuru, East Bank Demerara.
Once there, they inflicted serious injuries on the taxi driver. Sookdeo’s badly decomposed body was found in the area. The car he was driving was found stripped of its valuable parts.
Kawal was charged, along with Lancaster, with Sookdeo’s murder. However, Kawal accepted a plea bargain and testified on behalf of the prosecution. He pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. Lancaster was found guilty of the murder.
Two other men were initially charged with the murder, but they were found not guilty by a jury.
Presenting arguments on behalf of the State in this appeal was Prosecutor Teshanna Lake-James, while Attorney-at-Law Lawrence Harris appeared for Lancaster.
The arguments were heard by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, and Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud.
The Chancellor has indicated that notices for the court’s ruling will be sent to the parties.