After recently being convicted and sentenced to 14 years in jail for manslaughter, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne resident Navindra Basdeo has filed an appeal as he contends that the verdict was “unreasonable” and cannot be supported by the evidence.
Basdeo, 24, also known as ‘Pone,’ was on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow on a charge of murder committed against Sukhdeo, also known as ‘Vishal,’ 30, also of Black Bush Polder.
Early last month, a jury, however, found him not guilty of the capital offence but convicted him on the lesser count of manslaughter.
The killing took place on August 23rd, 2014.
In his notice of appeal, Basdeo, through his attorney Mursaline Bacchus, contends that the verdict is inconsistent and ought not to be allowed to stand.
He argues, too, that the law of “omissions, inconsistencies and contradictions” was not adequately put to the jury, while adding that the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case were not adequately detailed to the jury by the judge.
A date will eventually be set by the Guyana Court of Appeal for Basdeo’s case to be heard.
In imposing the sentence, Justice Barlow informed him that four years were being deducted for mitigating factors, in addition to the time he had already spent on remand awaiting trial.
An autopsy had revealed that Sukhdeo died as a result of two stab wounds to his heart. In addition, other parts of his body had incised wounds, which resulted in shock and haemorrhaging.
According to the state’s case, presented by Prose-cutor Mandel Moore, Sukhdeo and the offender were at a wedding house in their village when a fight ensued.
Persons reportedly parted the men, however, Sukhdeo’s body was later discovered in the corner of a drain in the area where the fight had started.
Basdeo had denied the murder allegation levelled against him.
His story was that he had been at the wedding house, where an armed Sukhdeo approached and dragged him onto the road. He alleged that Sukhdeo then further attacked him.
According to Basdeo, at no time was he even ever armed.
