Convicted murderer Rondel Harris, who pleaded guilty to killing Saisenarine Ramnauth in January, returned to the Berbice Assizes yesterday where he confessed to three counts of armed robbery.
Justice Diana Insanally imposed sentences of four years on each count, which will run concurrently with each other. Harris was sentenced to nine years imprisonment on the murder charge, which took into consideration the time he had spent in prison. Harris, 29, told the court that he was aware that a preliminary inquiry was held for the capital offence but was unaware of the current charges, as no inquiry was held at the lower court.
However the judge remarked that she was not at the Magistrate’s Court and could not relate what may have transpired.
State Counsel Ganesh Hira revealed that on June 7, 2003, between 6.30 pm and 7 pm, Harris, Alfred Lewis and Brentnol Bascom entered A. Sain Supermarket at Lot 11 ‘C’ Williamsburg Village, Corentyne, where they robbed co-owner and cashier Bibi Zafena Ally of $400,000 along with a pair of gold bangles valued $20,000.
Hira added that the men proceeded into the store and robbed Indra Moonalall, and her daughter, who were shopping at the time, of cash and jewellery totalling $55,000. They then exited the building, where they tried to force Ramnauth, who was parked outside, to transport them from the scene. He refused and was shot in the back of his head.
At the January hearing before Justice Brassington Reynolds, State Counsel Fabayo Azore had stated that in addition to Harris, Lewis and Bascom, Harris’s brother-in-law, were arrested and charged with murder. However, a few days later in a statement to the police, Harris confessed to robbing the store at Bascom’s request, but claimed it was Bascom who put the gun at the back of Ramnauth’s head and pulled the trigger.
However, Harris, the State Counsel explained, was positively identified by the owners of the supermarket, following an identification parade held by Berbice sleuths.
Harris had faced another murder charge several years ago, but he was freed owing to insufficient evidence.
