– jailed for nine years
After pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, murder accused Brian Williams called ‘BV man’ was sentenced to nine years imprisonment by Justice Winston Patterson in the High Court yesterday.
Twenty-eight-year-old Williams was accused of killing his friend, 15-year-old Sunil Samsudeen, at Vive La Force on the West Coast Demerara on March 25, 2005.
Brian Williams
The two had been drinking together all night and on their way home a fight ensued over Samsudeen taking Williams’s gold chain. The next day Samsudeen was found in a trench with his head stuck in the mud. He had drowned and marks of violence were on his body. A post-mortem examination showed that Samsudeen had died of asphyxiation due to submission under water, compounded injuries to the neck and blunt trauma to the head.
In court yesterday, a probation report was read by Probation Officer Grace Roberts and then Williams’s attorney Peter Hugh addressed the court. Both the defence attorney and State Prosecutor Fabayo Azore accepted the facts in the report, which said that Williams came from a poor background, lost his father at an early age and had to drop out of school to help his mother take care of his siblings. Despite his lack of formal education he managed to eke out a living by doing all sorts of odd jobs before taking up a post with GuySuCo.
Addressing the court, Hugh referred to the caution statement taken at the time Williams was arrested in which he stated that Samsudeen had taken his hard-earned gold chain and a fight had resulted after his attempts to get it back.
The attorney said Williams was not right to cause the death of his friend and regretted that dearly, but Samsudeen had tried to take something from him after he had worked hard for it. Hugh urged the court to take into consideration that Williams pleaded guilty at the onset of his trial and did not waste the court’s time and prior to that he had co-operated fully with the police, telling them exactly what had happened.
He said that the young man was extremely sorry for what had happened and prior to that he had no previous clashes with the police. Hugh asked the court to be lenient and afford his client an opportunity “to make a meaningful contribution to society.”
Justice Patterson quoted parts of the probation report, which stated that Williams had left his family’s home because they had complained about his behaviour after consuming alcohol. He went to live with his stepbrother, but was “put out” because of the same behaviour. Justice Patterson said Williams had ample time to change his behaviour, and should not have allowed alcohol to impair his judgment and cause him to kill his friend.
The judge asked the man what type of alcohol he used to consume and Williams replied, “five-year-old rum.”
The judge said that all the shots of five-year-old would have multiplied and told Williams that although he was sorry for what he had done, a life was lost and he must do time for his actions. “There is still good in you… and it will be good to have… a time away from the spirits in the bottle,” the judge said.
Williams bowed his head as he was escorted out of the court.
why is this goat drinking with this little boy?? and where was the boy’s parents…..did they allowed him to go and drink “whole night”???
I will never kill my friend for a piece of gold!!
NEVER no matter how drunk i am.
Probably, a Credit Card yes!!
Calm down sandhurst…everybody is not noble like you..
NOT EVERYONE ARE EQUAL, IT HAS TO DO ALOT ABOUT THE ENVIROMENT YOU HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP IN, IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS WAY.SF EVEN YOU ARE NOT EQUAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC MINDED PPL., SO LET HIM BIDE HIS TIME TO REFLECT HIS ACTION.LUCKY TO HAVE ADMIT AND ONLY RECEIVE A LIGHT PUNISHMENT.
OH Yea!, heard the song “Rum Till I Die,” this is what drinking does to the brain, so u cannot say u would never kill ur friend over a gold chain, the rum spoke differently, it blocks all common sense, the sober heart conceals, the drunken heart reveals the real person. The parents r not always to be blamed, these kids don’t adhere to advise from no one.
Let him stay there, he’ll have some time to reflect on his actions, those of drinking with underage and drinking the man made spirits, I hope he’ll try to lead his life to the Holy Spirit instead.
Rum! How me love yuh! Yuh does mek meh do all kinds of stupid things when ah drink yuh. Look wha yuh mek de man do, you mek he kill he lil friend. Rum yuh terrible! Yuh no how fi mek man feel nice, even ugly boy think he is starboy when he drink yuh. Frighten man acting like he is hercules, he aint fraid of nothing, he does go and pick fight and end up dead or badly wounded, ah rum, in de dancehall, yuh does mek all dem ugly ghal look like princesses, meh cant get rid of yuh, meh try hard, but meh cant bring mehself to turn meh back pon yuh, I guess it will be rum til I die. People, if you alyuh cant handle rum, dont drink it!
ARNOLD, WHAT’S THIS ABOUT A CREDIT CARD YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT? LEAVE THE PAST WHERE IT BELONGS. PLEASE, LET US MAKE SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE GUYANA A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. OUR DEAR BELOVED HOMELAND.
thank you sam, these guys only picking picking like;//////,,.%67* dammmmn
am i reading right,9 yeears jail or 90 years, lol,some people like to blame rum too much when DDL mean DRINK DRUNK AND LAYDOWN not drink and kill.
i can’t understand how he can get only 9 years i think ie not right he should get more
What!!! A fifteen year old trying to take a gold chain from a 25 or 28 year old!!! How believeable is that? This does not sound right. Anyway, I hope its an eye opener for all those parents who want to let their little boys and girls hang out until the wee hours of the night like big men and women.
at least he has some remorse for the killings, this is inportant , he could be rehabilitated, hope he wise up while in prison, and make a meaningful contribution to society, all is not lost.
I agree with the Judge on every thing except the 9 years he should be imprison for 15 years. What kind of person is he to encourage a 15 year old to be in his company and consuming alchol he should have teach his friend a better way to remain in school not because you only had one parent that you could not become a better person now you regrett this was a senseless murder you committed.
Remember you can be who ever you choose to be an example of an incredible person with a kind heart or a person without a heart. I DO FEEL YOU DO NOT HAVE A HEART.
“submission under water”… dat is a new one by the SN writer of this report.
submersion under water gane out de window.
Why is SN is always being critize by some you you readers. If you all feel that you can do a better job, why not do it.
ha ha haaaaa OMG yes. hear yee, hear yee…NOT “Probably” more like Most definitely.
A credit card???? Of course i will ahhahahahaahaha…..u better don’t leave yours lying around!! hahahahahahahahah LMAO!!!