17-years jail for Corentyne man found guilty of killing 25-Y-O

Samuel Stewart, called ‘Sammy’, was Tuesday sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for the 2019 fatal stabbing of 25-year-old Patrick Raynol, called ‘Boy’.

Stewart of Salton Village, Corentyne, was sentenced by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Berbice High Court for the offence of manslaughter.

Initially, Stewart was on trial before a 12-member jury for the capital offence of murder. He had denied murdering Raynol on June 16, 2019, at Limlair Village where he resided at the time.

However, after deliberating for over two hours, the jury found Stewart not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter.

During the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Raynol’s mother, Camela Surujmohan’s impact statement was presented in court.

The woman said that her son was “the man of the house” and was always there for her during every hardship they faced.

“Losing my son is like losing my breath and never catching it again. It’s a forever panic attack, feeling my heart is dying as my soul keeps screaming for him and no matter what I try to do, I continue to lose my mind over him… My son is gone and will soon be forgotten by many, but his mother is left to grieve and suffer for him,” the mother said in her statement.

She said that while the verdict will not bring her son back to life, it will ease the pain she feels over losing him.

Justice Morris-Ramlall, while delivering her sentencing remarks, told Stewart that he showed no remorse for his actions.

She also told Stweart that he was a mature adult who could make decisions for himself while being aware of the repercussions.

In the end, the Judge sentenced Stewart to 17 years imprisonment and ordered prison authorities to deduct the time he spent on remand.

He will also have to undergo anger management counselling.

According to reports, on the day in question at about 23:00hrs, Stewart and Raynol were involved in an argument at a popular drinking spot at Limlair.

The News Room had reported that the disagreement stemmed after Raynol came to the defence of a relative who Stewart initially had a dispute with.

An argument followed and Raynol allegedly struck Stewart with an object.

Stewart armed himself with a knife and stabbed Raynol in the chest. The injured man attempted to run, but only made it a short distance before collapsing on a heap of sand.

Stewart was subsequently arrested and later charged.