Life imprisonment for man who killed Police Sergeant

Thirty-six-year-old Dennis Marks on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment for the death of Police Sergeant Leonard La Rose, who was fatally stabbed at Matthews Ridge, North West District in Region One on March 1, 2016.

Marks was on trial for murder before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court but the 12-member jury found him not guilty of the offence but found him guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The State was represented by attorney-at-law Tuanna Hardy, Tiffani Lyken and Nafeeza Baig while Marks is represented by Attorney-at-law Rachael Bakker.

According to reports, on the day in question, Police ranks went to arrest Marks, who was wanted pending investigations into a report of an alleged rape.

During efforts to arrest him, Marks attacked the ranks with a knife, stabbed Sergeant La Rose to his neck and two other ranks to their chest and right hand, respectively.

A rank subsequently shot him to his right foot. La Rose was pronounced dead on arrival at the Matthews Ridge Hospital.

Marks’ attorney during a plea of mitigation told the court that his client is sorry for his actions which he deems as a “tragic, unfortunate loss of life.”

Justice Kissoon, before passing sentencing, told Marks that the court will not condone such actions against officers and will have zero tolerance to such acts.

The Judge sentenced Marks to life imprisonment and ordered that he spend the remaining of his natural life behind bars for unlawfully killing a law enforcement officer.