Man gets life sentence for Crabwood Creek farmer’s murder
At his arraignment before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court earlier this week, Sunil Ally pleaded guilty to a charge of the capital offence of murder.
The 37-year-old defendant admitted that on February 1, 2019, he murdered 59-year-old Deoprakash Lalbachan, a cash crop and poultry farmer also known as “Deo” and “Williams,” during a violent robbery he committed at the Grant 1651, Crabwood Creek, Corentyne home of the farmer.
Sunil Ally has accordingly been sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of release after 23 years.
In passing sentence on the killer, Justice Kissoon stated that the farmer was brutally and callously murdered in his home by Ally and others.
The court has also ordered that Ally participate in vocational programmes to help him acquire the skills and get the rehabilitation he needs to successfully transition back into society after serving his time.
The matter was prosecuted by State Counsel Muntaz Ali, while attorney-at-Law Tuanna Hardy had represented Ally.
Background to the case
Arriving at the Skeldon Public Hospital shortly after 23:00h on February 1, 2019, Lalbachan was declared dead. Five stab wounds were on his body.
His wife Nalini Lalbachan had discovered him leaning on the kitchen counter in the bottom flat of their home while still clutching his stab wounds. A camouflage vest was found at the crime scene, in addition to a knife.