Fmr. GDF Captain who killed wife appeals life sentence by High Court

Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain, Orwain Sandy who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years for shooting his reputed wife, Reona Payne to death, has moved to the Appeal Court to have his sentence reduced.

Earlier this month, the 38-year-old was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon after pleading guilty to the offence of manslaughter. He was initially charged with the capital offence of murder but opted to plea to the lesser offence.

The incident occurred on March 31, 2018, in Alexander Village, Georgetown.

In sentencing, Justice Kissoon noted that gun-related violence by intimate partners cannot be condoned and such crimes are a plague in society.

Sandy has now moved to the Appeal Court where he is asking for a lesser sentence. He is also contending that the sentence imposed by Justice Kissoon is too excessive.

The News Room had reported that on the day in question, Sandy and Payne were observed by residents arguing in his car when Payne took his service revolver and threw it out of the car after which she exited the vehicle.

Sandy exited the car, picked up the gun and shot at a fleeing Payne. After she fell to the ground, it is alleged that he stood over her and emptied the gun into her body.

Sandy then drove himself to the Ruimveldt Police Station where he surrendered and handed over the murder weapon.

A post-mortem report revealed that Payne was shot approximately 14 times – 13 times to the chest and once to the head.

Although both Sandy and Payne were married to other people, they were living together for about five years at the Captain’s Providence, East Bank Demerara home.

Following the incident, the GDF immediately interdicted Sandy and launched a Board of Inquiry.