29 years jail for youth found guilty of murdering city businessman

Twenty-two-year old Kemo Tyron Evans was sentenced to serve 29 years imprisonment by Justice Sandil Kissoon for the April 2015 murder of city businessman, Abdul Farouk Ghanie, the proprietor of Hamson’s General Store.

Evans was found guilty by a 12-member jury of the capital offence which stated that between April 15 and 16, 2015 at Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Ghanie, aka ‘Brother’, during the course of a robbery.

He was represented by Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd while the State was represented by prosecutors Tuanna Hardy, Tiffani Lyken and, Nafeeza Baig.

The first person to be sentenced for the same murder was Floyd Rammat who confessed to the crime. Rammat is currently serving a 30-year sentence.

The court heard that Rammat was employed by the businessman as a handyman and also lived at the house; on the day in question, he and Evans robbed and stabbed the businessman in the region of his heart with a knife.

Neighbours reportedly saw Rammat and Evans leaving the house; the next day, neighbours found the businessman lying at the back of his yard in a pool of blood, and with visible wounds to his chest.

Rammat was arrested three months later by Police in the interior.

Prosecutor Hardy asked the Judge to send a strong message to persons who may contemplate similar crimes. Hardy also argued that Ghanie was robbed and killed in a place that was supposed to be his sanctuary.

She also told the court that Evans lied to the Police and fled the jurisdiction.

In court, Ghanie’s brother, Fizal testified that he was like his second father. Fizal said he is happy that justice is finally being served.

Additionally, Ghanie’s daughter during her testimony said: “I feel relieved because it’s one less criminal off the road.”

Attorney Todd, during his plea of mitigation, asked the court to consider that Evans was only 17-years-old when he committed the crime.