Corentyne man sentenced to 13 years for death of Tain security guard
-co-accused gets two months
A Corentyne man was yesterday sentenced to 13 years in prison for the killing of a guard while his co-accused who was a teenager at the time of the murder was sentenced to two months in jail.
The duo had pleaded guilty to manslaughter in relation to a Tain Settlement security guard who was killed during a robbery in March, 2018, at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne.
In April, 2018, the two were charged with the murder of Muneshprem Ayasammy Monien, 53, during the course or furtherance of a robbery.
Carlos Bollers, 22, of Lot 119 Williamsburg
Village, Corentyne, and his co-accused, who was a minor at the time of the crime, entered their guilty pleas before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the High Court in Berbice yesterday.
Justice Morris-Ramlall yesterday started Bollers’ sentence at 27 years but after deductions were made for mitigating factors, a guilty plea, and time spent in remand she sentenced the man to 13 years in prison.
However, for the sentencing of the co accused, 20, the judge asked that the reporters exit the virtual hearing.
After the proceedings, the ruling was provided to the media through the court, which noted that in all the circumstances of the case the judge found that a custodial sentence coupled with counseling, probation and supervision was warranted. “I believe that this will foster a sense of responsibility in the offender and promote his education, rehabilitation and reintegration,” the judge declared.
However, she indicated that pursuant to Section 44, the maximum sentence which the court can impose on the offender under the Act is five years, which she used as the starting point for sentencing.
She took into consideration the fact that the offender has a previous good record/character, his genuine expression of remorse, his personal history and the possibility for rehabilitation.
“These are mitigating circumstances on the basis of which I discount six months.”
From the remaining 4 years 6 months, one-third was discounted on account of the guilty plea and an additional 2 years and 10 months for time served on remand.
“This means that there is a remaining period of two months’ imprisonment for the offender to serve,” the ruling stated.
However, in addition to the two months in prison, the judge ruled that immediately upon conclusion of the sentence, the offender must be placed on probation and supervision for a period of three years during which time he shall keep the peace and be of good behaviour, report to the Chief Probation Officer on or before the last Monday of every month, notify the Chief Probation Officer of any change of address or any change in the offend-er’s place of employment, remain in the territorial jurisdiction of Guyana, unless the offender obtains the permission of the Court to leave the jurisdiction, com-plete a course in computer studies and or any other technical field with guidance from the Chief Probation Officer, make reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain suitable employment, and
perform community service in the Albion or Rose Hall communities for two hours weekly for a period of six months at a place or institution directed by the Chief Probation Officer commencing from one month of the end of the period of his custody.
Also, within one month from the end of his period of custody, the Director of Childcare and Protection Agency shall issue a positive peer association directive requiring the offender to associate for a specified period with a specified person who the Director has reason to believe can contribute to the positive behaviour of the offender.
Meanwhile, a probation report which was presented on behalf of Bollers, a high school dropout, noted that he was employed as a sales boy who earned $10,000 weekly at the establishment where the incident occurred.
According to the report, he was sorry for the loss of the deceased, which he said happened unexpectedly.
The owner of the business where the accused and deceased worked, described Bollers as a hardworking and quiet person, who got along with his colleagues.
The owner said, the accused worked with him from a very tender age but