Tekeram Lachanna yesterday received a 20-year sentence for killing his cousin Mohammed Sheriff in 2007.
But Lachanna, 38, who had been charged with murder and had pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, will only serve eight years owing to various mitigating factors.
Justice Roxane George, who handed down the sentence at the High Court, took into consideration Lachanna’s guilty plea, time he spent incarcerated and the findings of a probation report.
The probation report, which did not contain many details about Lachanna’s life, was presented to the court before the sentencing.
The former carpenter, of Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara, was represented by state-appointed counsel Mark Waldron, while the state was represented by Konyo Sandiford. Sandiford presented the prosecution’s case before Lachanna was sentenced.
The prosecution’s case was that Lachanna and Sheriff were at Lachanna’s sister’s home at, Goed Intent, on July 15, 2007, drinking high wine. An argument over a jersey ensued between them as Lachanna had accused Sheriff of wearing his jersey and he asked him to take it off, while Sheriff claimed it was not his jersey.
Another cousin, who was at home and heard the argument, intervened in the matter and gave Sheriff a jersey to put on and sent him home. Sheriff then put on the said jersey and took another shot of high wine before leaving. As he was about to leave he told Lachanna something and Lachanna went into kitchen, picked up a knife and stabbed Sheriff. Sheriff was rushed to the hospital, where he died three days later.
Waldron, in his address to the court, said that his client’s action was not a premeditated act. He also argued that Lachanna’s education stopped at the nursery level, since he had to drop out of school to assist his mother who was a single parent.
In his statement to the court, Latchanna said he was sorry for what he had done. He said, “Ah mek a mistake in me life, an me deh in jail and me change me lifestyle.” He added, “I was a Hindu but a turn Christian and I’m begging you to have mercy on me.” He also added that he would like to have a family, since he has no wife or children.
Lachanna, who appeared in court wearing a mask, sat sombrely in the prisoners’ dock waiting for Justice George to decide his fate.
Justice George stated that it was an unfortunate incident where alcohol played a major part in the life of Lachanna and the deceased as well as their families. She also told him that the starting point for sentencing is 20 years but the sentencing would be broken down owing to various mitigating factors.
Five years was deducted for the 5 years he spent behind bars, and one third of the sentencing, which is equivalent to 6 years, was also taken off because of his guilty plea. Another year was also deducted because of the results of the probation report, bringing the final years to be spent in prison to 8 years.
