Murder accused Lloyd Rampersaud was yesterday sentenced to 70 years in jail after he was found guilty of killing Munilall Mangru, called ‘Boy’ while his co-accused and brother Roy Rampersaud was found not guilty and freed.
A 12-member jury returned the verdicts after spending close to four hours deliberating on the matter at the High Court yesterday. At one point, the jury sought further directions on the evidence of the case from Justice Navindra Singh, who presided over the trial. The members then retired back to the jury room and returned shortly after with the unanimous verdict of guilty for the offence of murder for the number one accused, Lloyd, and not guilty for Roy.
Before penalty was imposed on him, Lloyd told the court, “I am innocent that is all,” when asked if he had anything to say. Roy was told by the judge that he was found not guilty by the jury and that he was free to go.
In handing down the 70-year sentence, Justice Singh said that his starting point for sentencing was 60 years before the aggravating factors in the case were considered. He added that he found that Lloyd’s action was deliberate and brutal.
The Rampersauds were represented by attorney Euclin Gomes, who asked the court to take into consideration the time the accused spent in prison before sentencing.
The brothers were on trial for the February 2009 murder of Mangru, whose body was found under a bridge linking Mon Repos and Triumph, on the East Coast of Demerara.
Lloyd had admitted to the police in his statement, which was admitted into evidence that he, Shaeed Baksh, called ‘Towley,’ and Mangru went to buy $20,000 in cocaine from someone in his street. Baksh was one of the men charged with the murder but the charge against him was dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Lloyd also said in the statement that after they bought the cocaine, the three of them went under a bridge at Triumph public road and smoked it. He said, “Towley then bling me and tell me dat Boy get nuff money and we plan to rob he. Towley vice he and me lash he with a piece of wood on he face and me see he tongue come out. Towley then cuff he up pon he face and me then tek out all he money from he crotch.”
The total amount of money Mangru had on him was $40,000 and it was divided between him and Baksh, Lloyd also said, adding that afterward he went home and he told his brother Roy what happened. He added that he also went to drink high wine and smoked out the money he stole from Mangru.
Baksh’s deposition, which was admitted as evidence in the trial, had implicated the Rampersauds in the crime.
State prosecutors Dhanika Singh and Konyo Thompson closed their case on Monday, after which the brothers were asked to lead their defence. They each opted to give an unsworn statement.
Lloyd told the court that he was picked up by the police and taken to the station, where he was placed in the lock-ups. He said that while he was in the lock-ups the police handcuffed his feet and hands and asked him if he was ready to tell them the story and he replied that he did not know anything.
He also said the police asked him for his parents’ names and when he asked them why they needed that information, they told him that they have to prepare for his funeral. Another policeman, he said, then came into the lock-ups and placed a black plastic bag around his head and slapped him. They then proceeded to cuff and kick him, he added.
The accused also said that the police asked him if he could read and write but he told them that he could only sign his name. He claimed the police then brought some papers for him to sign and he signed.
Roy said that he was innocent of the charge and he did not know anything about the crime.
