Sentenced to 56 years for the 2017 murder of his neighbour Courtney Porter, Foster Gravesande is appealing both his conviction and sentence which he argues is severe.
In his appeal lodged with the Guyana Court of Appeal, Gravesande argues among other things that the jury’s verdict was unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence.
He contends, too, that trial judge Navindra Singh did not give a balanced summation of his case to the jury, did not properly put his defence to the panel and failed to sufficiently address what he called “the many deficiencies in the prosecution’s case.”
The appellant said that in particular, the eye-witness gave “many” pieces of contradicting evidence. Gravesande accuses the judge, too, of using circulatory language which according to him caused “confusion” and “dismay” in the minds of the jury. Finally, the appellant complains that the trial judge failed to address a number of what he calls “special issues” which were raised by his attorney, but which the judge nonetheless included in his summing up of the case to the jury.
Gravesande, 50, of Lot 5 Jonestown, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was sentenced by Justice Singh after being found guilty by a jury of murdering Porter on April 9th, 2017.
After handing him the 56-year sentence, the judge further informed Gravesande that he would not be eligible for parole before he completes spending 28 years behind bars.
The prosecution’s case is that on the evening of March 25th, 2017, Porter left his residence to attend a wake. On his way to the wake, it was stated that he stopped to visit his mother, who lives further down his street, when he met with Gravesande.
Porter’s wife had said that based on what she was told, Gravesande had accused Porter of pulling at his wife’s clothes and reportedly dealt him several lashes to his head with a piece of wood.
Porter subsequently collapsed and was transported to a hospital, where he was admitted until discharged.
However, on the afternoon of April 9th, Porter complained of feeling unwell and was taken to the Mahaicony Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention
A post-mortem examination had revealed that he died as a result of a fractured skull and neck and trauma to the brain.
