An Essequibo High Court jury convicted a man for the murder of his friend, 22-year-old Leguan, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) resident, Mark Narine, called “Marko”.
Murder accused: Philip Jhagroo called “Tanky”
The jury, on Monday, found Philip Jhagroo, called “Tanky”, 48, unanimously guilty of the crime.
Jhagroo, formerly of Goed Intent, Leguan, Region Three, had been on trial for the capital offence before Justice Brassington Reynolds. The indictment stated that between March 30 and 31, 2019, at School Dam, Richmond Hill, Leguan, he murdered Narine.
Jhagroo, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Latchmie, had initially pleaded not guilty.
When asked by Justice Reynolds if he had anything to say before the court passed sentencing, Jhagroo, said, “I’m innocent. I was set up and framed. I don’t how the jury is not seeing this. I was framed and put in jail by the Police. I’m innocent; I did not kill nobody. God knows the truth.”
Killed: Mark Narine called “Marko”
The murder convict will be sentenced on June 27 following the presentation of social and psychiatric reports on him. Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken appeared for the prosecution.
According to reports, Narine was on his way home, when he was lashed off his motorcycle by Jhagroo and then thrown overboard. The man’s lifeless body was pulled from a trench in Leguan the following day. A post-mortem examination gave Narine’s cause of death as drowning. It also revealed blunt trauma to his face and hands which is consistent with severe beating.
While on remand for Narine’s murder, Jhagroo, along with three other prisoners had escaped from the Lusignan Prison in 2020. He was recaptured in March of the following year after he was caught stealing a chicken from a farm in Ruby, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
