Two years, six months jail for carpenter who beat woman

Bhola Bhagwandin known as ‘Buddy’ was, on Wednesday, sentenced to two years, six months imprisonment for the brutal assault of a woman in 2019.

Bhagwandin, a 49-year-old carpenter, was sentenced by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court.

Last month, a 12-member jury found Bhagwandin not guilty of two counts of rape which alleged that on September 2, 2019, in the County of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with the woman.

However, he was found guilty of assaulting the woman on the same date and location, thereby causing her actual bodily harm.

During the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, State Prosecutor Sarah Martin asked the court to consider the injuries the victim sustained. But his attorney Teriq Mohammed asked the court for leniency and to consider that his client is a father of two children.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened and I want to live my life for my children and I ain’t want nothing more to do with dis girl [the victim]… I just want to live a life to suit my children and change my lifestyle,” Bhagwandin said during his address to the court.

Justice Barlow took into consideration the nature of the case and the fact that at the time of the assault the victim had a protection order against Bhagwandin.

The judge said she found that a custodial sentence is necessary after considering the high number of domestic violence in Guyana and Bhagwandin’s disregard for authorities and court orders.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered Bhagwandin to undergo counseling for alcohol abuse and anger management.

“Avoid the alcohol, avoid the violence so that you don’t ever have to come back to a court,” the judge said to Bhagwandin.