‘Ducky’ gets life sentence for killing Berbice labourer

Donald Shariff called “Ducky” was Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment over the 2020 brutal beating of New Amsterdam, Berbice labourer Keron Nicholson.

Shariff, formerly of Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court.

Initially indicted for murder, he had opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

He admitted to unlawfully killing Nicholson, 33, sometime between May 8 and 17, 2020 at Patrick Dam.

The brutal attack occurred during a heated argument on March 8, 2020, leading to Nicholson’s death from a cerebral haemorrhage on March 17, 2020.

Shariff was apprehended in May 2020 in Mahdia, Region Eight. While in prison, he faced disciplinary actions for assaulting fellow inmates.

During sentencing on Tuesday, Justice Kissoon criticised Shariff’s “callous” actions, stating that his remorse seemed insincere.

The Judge ordered that Shariff must serve 15 years before parole eligibility, with due credit for time on remand.

He also ordered that the confessed killer undergo anger management programs.

Shariff was represented by Attorney at Law Tuanna Hardy while Attorney at Law Muntaz Ali prosecuted the matter on behalf of the State.