Dhupaul Singh, who was on trial over the fatal chopping of Mahaica farmer Balkissoon in September, 2014, was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment after a 12- member jury found him guilty of murder.
The indictment against Singh also called ‘Tailor man’ was that he murdered Balkissoon on September 2, 2014 at Helena Number Two, Mahaica. The incident was said to have stemmed from an argument the two men had following insults hurled by Singh regarding the dead farmer’s wife.
After a brief trial which saw a total of 7 witnesses being called to testified, the panel of jurors spent almost two hours deliberating before returning a unanimous verdict of guilty.
In a pleas of mitigation, Singh’s lawyer Madan Kissoon said his client has been incarcerated for a year and a half pending his trial. He also asked the judge to take into consideration the fact that his client has no prior convictions and that he happens to be the sole breadwinner for his reputed wife and three children. When asked if he had anything to say before being sentenced, Singh responded in the negative. He was reminded by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow that his defence of self-defence and provocation had not been accepted by the jury and he therefore now has the opportunity to express remorse if he felt any.
Singh then said: “Well I’m sorry that a life was lost.”
In her remarks to Singh, Justice Barlow explained that she took into consideration the fact that he offered an apology for a life being lost and not one for being responsible for taking that life. She further noted that Balkissoon’s life was taken in a “most brutal” manner.
“After sentencing, when you are in another place you will have time to think about the pain you caused not only the family of the deceased but also your family as well,” she said.
Singh was sentenced to life in prison and will only be eligible for parole after serving 25 years in jail.
The case was presented by State Counsel Siand Dhurjon in association with Shawnette Austin.
