28 years jail for Bartica youth

A 22-year-old Bartica resident was Tuesday sentenced to 28-years imprisonment by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court, for the murder Puranand ‘Andrew’ Baljit, whom he confessed to killing during a home invasion.

Ryon Jones also known as ‘Rayon Jones’ was charged with the murder of Baljit, a mechanic who was killed during a robbery on June 9, 2016, at his Timehri, East Bank Demerara home.

Jones on Tuesday opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay. Prosecutor Mandel Moore presented the State’s case.

During a plea of mitigation, McKay told the court that his client did not waste the court’s time and admitted to the crime.

“I feel like I have no life… In life, you have to speak the truth and the truth will set you free,” Jones told the court.

He also apologized for his actions and said: “I am so sorry for how things happened. I’m begging you for a chance to go back into society,” as he pleaded with the Judge for leniency.

Baljit, 23, was found with several stab wounds about his body. Following Jones’ arrest, he had admitted to investigators that he entered Baljit’s bedroom earlier that night and hid until the victim fell asleep.

Baljit, however, woke up and they had a scuffle during which he stabbed him.

The dead man’s father had told the police that he heard screams coming from his son’s room and rushed to his aid but his bedroom door was locked.

He then decided to climb through his son’s bedroom window and discovered the young man lying in a pool of blood.