Life imprisonment for duo who murdered man at Minibus Park

Two men were on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 15 years for the fatal stabbing of Rawle Rodrigues, who was killed during a robbery at the Route 32 Minibus Park in 2017.

Affiba Yenkana, called ‘Dougla’, and Akeem Haymer, called ‘Curry’ was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court. They were on trial for the capital offence of murder before a 12-member jury but on Wednesday, they entered a guilty plea to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Yenkana and Haymer admitted that on January 20, 2017, at Croal Street, Stabroek, they unlawfully killed Rodrigues during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

The indictment was presented by State Prosecutor Lisa Cave, while the men were presented by attorneys Lawrence Harris and Rachael Bakker, who asked the judge to temper justice with mercy. The attorneys, in a plea of mitigation, appealed to the court to consider the age of the two men, who they said are in their early 20’s and can be rehabilitated.

The Judge, before imposing his sentence, noted that both men were previously convicted for stealing, and during that time behind bars, they made no attempt to be rehabilitated, and instead, resumed a life of crime after they were released.

While highlighting the rising number of homicides and other crimes in society, the Judge noted that the court has a role to play to send a strong message to deter like-minded persons from committing similar offenses.

As such, Justice Kissoon sentenced the men to serve life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 15 years.

Rodrigues was stabbed to his chest by three men, who allegedly trailed him from the Demico Roof Garden where he was earlier seen consuming alcohol.