“Tarzan” gets 19 years for 2011 killing of Brazilian

High Court Judge, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow on Tuesday sentenced 40-year-old Wycliff Smith also called “Tarzan” to a total of 19 years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to the 2011 killing of Brazilian national, Armando Da Silva.
Smith was initially charged for the capital offence of murder but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he appeared at the Demerara High Court on Tuesday.
The charge against him detailed that on January 21, 2011, at Moco Moco Mountain Foot, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), he killed Armando Da Silva.
It was reported that Smith and the deceased, who are known to each other, were imbibing with a group of persons on the day of the incident. However, during the drinking spree, an argument erupted amongst the parties.
Smith, who became annoyed, left the location but later returned armed with a shotgun, which he subsequently used to fatally shoot the now dead man, to his chest.
After the shooting, the now convicted man dug a shallow grave, in which he buried Da Silva. The matter was reported, and an investigation was launched. Smith was later arrested and charged for the heinous crime.
As such, Justice Barlow handed down the sentence and ordered that the years the convict spent on remand be deducted from same.
Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay represented Smith, while the State’s case was presented by Prosecutor Sarah Martin.