Michael Powley, who was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Vishwanauth Narine, was yesterday sentenced to 13 years in prison after the presentation of a probation report.
Powley, 44, was charged with murder, but a 12-member jury found him not guilty on this count on April 10 but unanimously agreed on the manslaughter verdict.
The indictment against Powley stated that on June 8, 2012, at Plastic City, Squatting Area, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, he murdered Narine, called ‘Buddy’.
The state’s case was that on the day in question, the two were engaged in an argument and a fight broke out, during which Powley began chasing Narine, who fell. Powley then allegedly began stabbing the fallen man. Narine was subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
Justice James Bovell-Drakes, who presided over the trial, had deferred sentencing to yesterday to facilitate the presentation of a probation report, which Powley’s attorney, Basil Williams, requested.
The court heard from the probation officer that from investigations conducted, persons in the community described the deceased as a “troublemaker and known drug addict.”
The report also stated that Narine had had several brushes with the law and was known to police at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.
The court also heard from the report that neighbours described Powley as a peaceful person. The officer said further that in an interview with the prison administrator, Powley was described as a “good, peaceful and humble” inmate of the Camp Street Prison.
In presenting findings of the convict’s attitude towards the offence, the probation officer said that Powley has maintained his innocence “but seeks to apologise to the family of the deceased, for their loss.”
In handing down his sentence, Justice Bovell-Drakes referred to a ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in which he noted that the sentence on a manslaughter conviction started at 16 years.
Justice Bovell-Drakes said he was following suit and then deducted three years for the time Powley has since spent behind bars. The judge ordered that the sentence retroactively commence from the start of the April session, which began on the 7th of this month.
Relatives of both the convict and deceased were teary-eyed after sentence was passed.
The state was represented by attorneys Natasha Backer and Narissa Leander.
