Otis McCurdy who admitted being part of a group back in 2016 that fatally beat a pork knocker; was yesterday morning sentenced to 10 years in prison by Justice Navindra Singh, before whom he appeared at the High Court in Suddie.
McCurdy accepted that between June 18th and 19th of 2016, he unlawfully killed Shawn McDonald, whose body the prosecution said was later found in a metal tank at his Kurupung, Region Seven camp.
In a brief address to the court, McCurdy said that he was sorry for his actions and sought forgiveness from the family of the deceased.
His attorney Lachmi Dindayal in a mitigating plea emphasized his client’s remorse, even as he begged the judge to be merciful; advancing that he was the sole breadwinner of his family and had cooperated with police.
State Counsel Tiffini Lyken said that on June 19th, 2016 McDonald’s body was found in a metal tank with his feet bound.
The autopsy she said, revealed that he had died from haemorrhage and shock due to multiple injuries.
Lyken said that McCurdy was arrested following investigations and admitted in a caution statement which he did not deny giving investigators—to hitting the now-dead man with a piece of wood.
The prosecutor said he had also detailed that he was part of a group which had beaten the miner.
Following the submissions from both sides, Justice Singh imposed the 10-year sentence, and ordered that the prison make deductions for time McCurdy would have spent on remand awaiting trial.
McDonald hailed from the mining town of Linden.
Stabroek News had previously reported that his death may have stemmed from several complaints made by a woman.
Other information had revealed that prior to his demise, he was seen imbibing at a shop where he reportedly brandished a cutlass at several individuals.
McDonald had last been seen returning to his camp.
