Court reduces 13 -year jail time for man convicted for attempted murder

Hansel Andre Lewis, called “Smiley”, who was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for attempted murder, had his sentence reduced to 10 years on Tuesday by the Court of Appeal.

In 2016, Lewis, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam Berbice, was sentenced by Justice Brassington Reynolds in the Berbice High Court after he was found guilty by a jury of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Chris Burrowes, called “Bully” on New Year’s Day of 2013.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the High Court, Lewis, with the aid of his attorney Murseline Bacchus, SC, mounted an appeal against his conviction and sentence, claiming several errors in law were made by the trial judge, including imposing an excessive sentence.

The appeal was heard by Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud at the Court of Appeal. The State was represented by State prosecutor Natasha Backer.

The Appeal Court affirmed Lewis’ conviction but reduced his sentence to 10 years.

Time in pre-trial custody will be deducted from his sentence.

According to reports, on the day in question, the men were at Rainbow Bar on Republic Road and Charles Place in New Amsterdam consuming alcohol. An argument ensued during which Lewis pulled out a knife and stabbed Burrows in his neck.

Burrowes was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and was discharged 18 days later.