Man appeals life sentence over murder of vagrant
Sentenced to life for the 2017 murder of a vagrant, Shawn Harris has lodged an appeal with the Guyana Court of Appeal through which he is challenging his conviction and sentence which he contends is too severe.
His matter will be heard by the Guyana Court of Appeal at a date to be fixed.
Late last year the 31year-old was convicted by a jury for murdering Sunil Singh, called ‘Grey,’ on February 5th, 2017, at Owen Street, Kitty.
Last month trial judge, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow who presided over the trial, imposed the life sentence on the convict.
Harris maintained his innocence, saying that he did not kill Singh, while adding that it was his belief that he was “paying for his past sins.”
Before passing the sentence, Justice Barlow said considering the charge, the death penalty would not have been appropriate as there was no evidence to show that he could not be reintegrated into society.
Against this background, she stated that a life sentence would be more appropriate with the possibility of parole after the convict would have served 20 years.
Harris, who was one of 13 prisoners who escaped from the Lusignan Prison in 2017, was charged with fatally stabbing Singh, after the man attempted to rescue an employee of a Lamaha Street nightclub from an attack by Harris and two others.
Harris along with two others had attempted to enter the club after it was closed but was prevented from doing so by an employee.
An argument ensued between the employee and the three men, which resulted in the worker being stabbed. Singh intervened and tried to make peace but he was dealt a blow to his head. Singh subsequently ran and was pursued to Owen Street, where he was eventually stabbed multiple times.