Four years jail for teen who killed boy, 17

A 19-year-old labourer was on Wednesday sentenced to four years imprisonment for fatally stabbing 17-year-old Clive Osborne during a fight at a shop, which occurred on June 2, 2019, at Supenaam on the Essequibo Coast.

Richard Harrychand, formerly of Supenaam, was sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh at the Suddie High Court for the offence of manslaughter.

In May, Harrychand was indicted for the capital offence of murder but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. On Wednesday, his attorney, Lachmi Dindayal, told the court that his client is remorseful and can be rehabilitated.

The attorney described Harrychand as “quiet, honest and industrious” and a well-behaved prisoner. State prosecutor, Tiffani Lyken, urged the judge to consider that a weapon was used in the commission of the crime which resulted in the loss of life.

In his address to the court, Harrychand apologised for his actions but maintained that Osborne was the aggressor.  Justice Singh, after considering the mitigating and aggravating factors in the case, sentenced Harrychand to four years imprisonment.

The judge advised Harrychand to use his time behind bars to pursue courses offered by the prison so that he can turn over a new leaf upon his release.

According to reports, on the day in question, Osborne was socialising with his friends at a shop when he was confronted by Harrychand, who stabbed him several times to his abdomen, chest and forehead with a knife. The injured man ran out of the shop and collapsed. He was taken to the hospital by his cousin, where he was pronounced dead.

When arrested, Harrychand handed over the murder weapon to the police and told investigators that Osborne had an old grievance with his younger brother.