Man jailed for ten years after confession that he beat miner to death, dumping body in metal tank

Otis McCurdy was on Wednesday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after he confessed to beating pork-knocker Shawn McDonald with a piece of wood and dumping his body in a metal tank located at Kurupung, Region Seven.

McCurdy appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the Suddie High Court and pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge which alleged that between June 18-19, 2016, in the county of Essequibo, he unlawfully killed McDonald.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Lachmi Dindayal while the state was represented by prosecutor Tiffini Lyken.

In a plea in mitigation, McCurdy’s lawyer told the court his client was “very sorry” for what had happened. According to defence counsel, McCurdy had no prior convictions and he cooperated with the Police in all aspects of the investigation. Dindayal also told the court that McCurdy was the sole breadwinner for his family.

According to the facts presented by prosecutor Lyken, on June 19, 2016, the battered body of McDonald was found in a metal tank with his feet bound. A post-mortem report showed that McDonald sustained multiple injuries, including wounds to the head, a broken shoulder and a deep cut to the mouth that reportedly caused him to suffocate on his own blood.

Based on information received, McCurdy was arrested by police and under caution, he admitted being among a mob of men who attacked McDonald. McCurdy reportedly admitted attacking McDonald with a piece of wood and placing him into the metal container with the aid of the other men.

Justice Singh, after taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the case, sentenced McCurdy to 10 years imprisonment. The judge also ordered prison authorities to deduct the time McCurdy spent on remand from the prison sentence.