Corentyne man gets 26 years after death sentence set aside

Gowkarran Ramdayal

A Corentyne man who was sentenced to death in 2011 for the murder of his stepfather, after which the conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in July, was on Monday sentenced to 26 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Gowkarran Ramdayal, called `Silence’, of Queenstown, Corriverton, was charged with murdering Bhowan Ramdayal, 51.

The senior Ramdayal was allegedly beaten with an iron bar about his body at their home after a misunderstanding between the two men on 10 October, 2007, over money.

Justice Jo Ann Barlow during sentencing on  Nonday told Ramdayal that after many years he has decided to take responsibility for his actions. She said, “The person you injured was an adult, your mother’s husband”. She also told him, that if he wanted money he should have worked for it.

She then sentenced the man to 26 years imprisonment. However, one year will be deducted for his guilty plea as well as the years he has spent in custody so far.