Youth gets 12 years jail for killing former Top Cop’s brother

A 21-year-old man was on Wednesday sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for the 2017 killing of Hemant Persaud, the brother of former Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.

Though now an adult, because he was charged as a juvenile in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, the accused identity is protected.

He was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court.

Justice Kissoon relied on the sentencing guidelines set out in the Juvenile Justice Act and noted that the convict was still a “child” when he carried out the brutal crime.

Taking all the aforementioned into consideration, Justice Kissoon sentenced the young man to serve 12 years imprisonment with time spent on remand to be deducted by the prison authorities.

After their release, he will be placed on a three-year probation period with strict reporting conditions.

As a condition of his probation, the young man will have to enroll at the Guyana Technical Institute or Guyana Industrial Training Center to complete a course in electrical insulation.

A report of his attendance, performance, and progress is expected to be submitted to Justice Kissoon every three months.

If he fails to adhere to the probation and supervision orders, he will be remanded to prison to serve an additional 24 months.

Last month, the young man was arraigned for the capital offence of murder but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

He admitted that on February 19, 2017, he unlawfully killed 51-year-old Persaud of Affiance Village, Essequibo Coast.

The court heard that the defendant was 15 at the time.

He is represented by attorney Alaira Murphy-Goodman while the state is represented by prosecutor Muntaz Ali.

Prosecutor Ali told the court that on the day in question the victim was at Stabroek Market when the accused walked up to him and snatched his gold chain.

The victim fought back and was stabbed in his chest by the accused, who was armed with a knife.

The teen fled the crime scene and boarded a Route 48 minibus.

He was later arrested in Sophia during a house-to-house search by the police.

During his address to the court, the young man said, “I was young and lacked guidance both physically and spiritually…”

The confessed killer added that he is currently enrolled in several courses offered by the prison and is continuing his education.