Hansel Lewis, also known as “Smiley”, was sentenced to 13 years in prison when he appeared in court in Berbice during the Berbice Assizes. The sentence was handed down by Justice Brassington Reynolds.
Hansel Lewis, called “Smiley”
Lewis, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was found guilty by a 12-man jury for the attempted murder of Chris Burrowes, called “Bully” on New Year’s Day 2013.
The State’s case, which was presented by Prosecutor Stacey Goodings, stated that Lewis slashed Burrowes to the throat while outside a bar on New Year’s morning at about 06:45h.
During the trial, Burrowes told the court that he knew the accused for a number of years. He said on the day in questioned, he was in the vicinity of the Rainbow Bar where he drank Banko wine, and was standing on the road when the accused came and stood next to him, smoking something that smelt unpleasant. He said he asked the accused to move. However, moments later, he was injured by the accused.
Throughout the trial, Lewis maintained that he was wrongfully accused. At the time of the incident, he said himself and the Virtual Complainant were at the bar consuming alcohol when an argument ensued. According to Lewis, they both went their separate ways, and he could not recall any physical altercation between them.
Lewis was represented by Attorney Ramesh Rajkumar who argued that it was a case of mistaken identity.
On Friday last, Probation and Welfare Officer Judith Vankennie told the court that Lewis feels bad about the incident and maintains his innocence. Both the defendant and the accused were friends at the time if the incident.
Vankennie continued by telling the court that Lewis experienced a happy childhood while residing in Guyana, but migrated to the United States in 1990. He came into conflict with the law and was deported in 2002.
A report from the National Psychiatric Hospital revealed that he had been admitted there in 2008 for drug abuse and investigations conducted in the community of John Lewis Street in Angoy’s Avenue, where Lewis resides, revealed that he is known for his alcoholic tendencies, and has caused disturbances in the community.
Having been found guilty by a mixed jury, Attorney Rajkumar pleaded for leniency for his client from the court, noting that the probation report proved he was remorseful despite his innocence.
Justice Reynolds told the accused that the jury did not believe his story, adding that the court believed he ambushed the Virtual Complainant after he objected to him smoking something that smelt offensive next to him.
As such Lewis was jailed for 13 years.
