“Roachie” appeals life sentence for killing of unarmed cop
Confessed killer: Delon Abrams
The Court of Appeal of Guyana will commence hearing arguments on November 29 for an appeal in the conviction of Delon Abrams, who was handed a life sentence in the killing of an unarmed member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
In June 2018, Abrams, 32, called “Roachie” was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole after Justice Sandil Kissoon accepted his plea of guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
Abrams, who was initially indicted for the capital offence of murder, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Police Corporal Seburn Elias, who was acting in execution of his duties on January 6, 2014.
Abrams killed Elias when the rank was attempting to re-arrest him after he had escaped from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was under Police guard.
It was reported that Abrams was caught and beaten by residents of Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, after he broke into someone’s home in the area.
As such, he had to be rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
Police Corporal Seburn Elias
However, the previously convicted felon escaped from the hospital. He also stole a Police Officer’s .38 calibre service pistol in the process.
When pursued and confronted in Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown by other ranks including an unarmed Elias, Abrams shot him twice, once to his chest and once to his left side abdomen.
Justice Kissoon had stated that the circumstances surrounding Elias’s death could not be ignored while delivering his sentencing remarks.
He had continued by saying that even after reviewing all of the prosecution’s evidence, he was unable to identify any mitigating circumstances. As a result, Justice Kissoon sentenced Abrams to life in prison without the chance of release.
In addition, Judge Kissoon had informed Abrams that although killing a law enforcement officer carries the death penalty, he was being sentenced to life in prison because of his early plea to the lesser offence.
At the time of his demise, Elias had 25 years of service in the Police Force. (G1)
