Gopaul Sewsankar, also known as ‘Romel’, 24, of Lot 85 Yakusari North, Black Bush Polder who is accused of fatally stabbing his teenage brother on 19 March, 2017, pleaded guilty to manslaughter yesterday when he appeared at the High Court in Berbice.
Sewsankar is accused of fatally stabbing his brother Vishal Sahora, 18, also of Lot 85 Yakusari North, Black Bush Polder. Prosecutor, Tuanna Hardy, told the court that the accused wanted to borrow the deceased’s motorcycle but after he refused a fight ensued after which Sahora was fatally stabbed. Sahora was rushed to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
In mitigation, Attorney at Law Surihya Sabsook, representing the accused noted that he was a first time offender, is in a common law relationship and is the father of a four-year-old daughter. Sabsook said whilst the accused’s actions are not excusable, the incident was between brothers who were drinking.
The attorney explained that the accused has expressed remorse and asked that leniency and mercy be exercised. The attorney further noted that the accused is young and there is hope for rehabilitation. The accused, Sewsankar, then pleaded with the court for forgiveness for everything that happened. He said it was a mistake and they “scramble and fall to the ground and he get bore”.
The father of both the deceased and accused, also named Sewsankar, asked the judge to have mercy on the accused. The father said that the accused has a four year old daughter who he will now have to take care of. “I beg for mercy for him. That is my son and I beg for him”. “I forgive him”, the emotional father stressed.
Prosecutor Hardy then added that while it was a family issue, the accused had no right to take the life of another and the law must take its course. She pointed out that the cause of death was a stab wound to the heart. “The state is asking that the sentence reflect the nature and gravity of the offense please.”
The accused will return to court on February 24, 2021 for sentencing.
