‘Sharky’ gets life sentence for killing clothes vendor

Wayne Chester called ‘Sharky’ was on Friday sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 40-year-old clothes vendor Purcell Moore during a robbery on December 20, 2017, at Old Road, Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Justice Sandil Kissoon, who sits at the Georgetown High Court, ordered that the convicted killer serve 30 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

Last month a 12-member jury found Chester guilty of killing Moore during the course of a robbery.

In his sentencing remarks, Justice Kissoon said that Chester showed no “remorse, regret, or sympathy” for his callous actions.

Among other things, the Judge said that the victim was unarmed and helpless, when he was “ruthlessly and brutally murdered” by Chester and two others.

The state was represented by prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Simran Gajraj, Rbina Christmas, and Cicelia Corbin. Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson represented Chester.

In 2021, Chester’s accomplice Selwin Dawson, 26, called “Crack Skull” and Kevin Persaud, 27, called “Boyce” were sentenced to life imprisonment with parole after 15 years.

The men were charged for murder, but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

According to reports, Moore was shot dead during an attempted robbery in the vicinity of the ‘shortcut’ at Old Road, Craig.

It was claimed that an argument erupted between the victim and the suspects, and it escalated into a scuffle, during which the armed suspect allegedly discharged several rounds.

He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Moore lived at Cayenne, French Guiana but was on a visit to Guyana at the time of his murder.

Persaud had allegedly confessed to investigators that he was the “look-out” man and pillion rider of the motorcycle while Dawson was the shooter.

Chester was named the trigger man behind the crime. Chester is currently serving a total of 14 years and six months behind bars for a series of offences, including armed robbery, possession of an illegal gun and ammunition, and discharging a loaded firearm.