A man who pleaded guilty to intentionally wounding his neighbour, was yesterday sentenced to nine years behind bars by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Georgetown.
Colin Sancho admitted that on February 20, 2010 at Georgetown, he wounded Aubrey McKinnon with intent to maim, disfigure, disable; or cause him grievous bodily harm.
Before the charge was read to Sancho at yesterday morning’s hearing, an inquiry was conducted by the court in which Psychiatrist Dr. Bhiro Harry testified regarding the man’s fitness to plead to the charge.
After the doctor’s testimony, the jury was satisfied that Sancho was fit to plead to the charge.
When the matter was called for hearing, Sancho’s attorney, Peter Hugh, informed the court that his client wanted to plead guilty to the charge.
Sancho, who has been incarcerated since the attack, said that he was sorry for what had happened.
The facts are that Sancho stabbed Aubrey with a knife over a previous misunderstanding which they had.
Justice Singh started the sentence at 15 years, but deducted six years for the time Sancho has so far spent in prison. The judge also took into consideration that the convict was remorseful and pleaded guilty at the first given opportunity.
Sancho had been initially arraigned on a charge of attempted murder which was presented by the state with the alternative of the wounding charge. The prosecution opted to withdraw the attempted murder charge and proceeded instead with the other.
The indictment was presented by state prosecutors Siand Dhurjon and Narissa Leander.
