A 35-year-old man who killed his girlfriend’s brother during a row over washroom space was on Wednesday sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.
Travis Hyman, a former sawmill worker, was arrested and charged with murder after he killed 52-year-old Alvy Israel Richmond, stabbing him to the heart during an argument at his Strath-Campbell, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara home in 2014. Hyman had opted to plea to the lesser count of manslaughter.
According to reports, Hyman shared a relationship with Richmond’s sister; on the day in question – July 21, 2014 – Richmond had an argument over space in the washroom when Hyman became overly aggressive and stabbed Richmond to the chest with a “Rambo knife.”
The State was represented by Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs while Hyman was represented by attorneys-at-law Mark Waldron and Keoma Griffith.
Waldron, in his plea of mitigation, told the court that his client was remorseful and threw himself at the mercy of the court to make amends for his wrongs.
The attorney stressed that Hyman never had intentions to kill Richmond.
Gibbs explained that Richmond was killed in his bathroom while in the comfort of his own home by Hyman, then a visitor.
Hyman, Gibbs said, did not render assistance to Richmond and ran away from the crime scene.
The State asked the court to send a strong message to the perpetrator and potential offenders of such crimes. The Prosecutor also told the court that Hyman was previously charged for cannabis and gun possession.
After considering the case, Justice Sandil Kissoon sentenced Hyman to 20 years jail and ordered that the prison authorities deduct the time he spent on remand for it.
