Ganesh Lall was on Monday sentenced to seven years imprisonment for killing his nephew in 2018.
Lall, 58, formerly of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was sentenced by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Demerara High Court on Monday.
Lall was initially indicted on a murder charge last month but he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
He confessed to the unlawful killing of 30-year-old Rajendra Paul Hira between July 15 and 16, 2018.
The prosecution team comprised State Counsel Caressa Henry and State Counsel Joy Williams, while Attorney-at-Law Khemraj Ramjattan represented Lall.
Considering the time Lall has already spent in pre-trial detention since his 2018 incarceration, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry ordered that it be credited towards his sentence and mandated his participation in rehabilitation programmes.
Hira, who lived with Lall and their grandparents, was known for demanding money to support his habits of smoking and binge drinking, often resorting to verbal and physical abuse when refused.
Lall recounted that he strangled Hira during a confrontation intended to protect his parents from Hira’s aggressive demands for money.
The following morning, Hira was found dead by his grandmother, with autopsy reports attributing his death to asphyxiation from neck compression injuries.
The court also learned of Hira’s previous legal issues, including minor offences in Guyana and a stalking arrest in the United States of America (USA), which led to his return to Guyana.
Family impact statements conveyed forgiveness for Lall, highlighting Hira’s troubled behaviour and unsuccessful attempts at intervention.
Hira’s mother, Lall’s sister, portrayed him as caring and pleaded for leniency, citing his support for their sick mother.
She revealed her son’s violent history towards her, which necessitated a protection order.
Despite acknowledging her son’s intelligence, she attributed his downfall to negative influences from his peers.
Lall, who had no prior criminal record, expressed remorse and sought forgiveness from the court.
