Phillip Jhagroo now awaits sentencing after being found guilty of the 2019 murder of a Leguan youth, Mark Narine, who police had said was lashed off his motorbike by the accused and thrown overboard.
Following hours of deliberations, a jury this afternoon returned a unanimous verdict; finding Jhagroo guilty as charged of murdering Narine between March 30th and March 31st, 2019 at School Dam, Richmond Hill, Leguan.
Justice Brassington Reynolds has, however, deferred sentencing to June 27th to facilitate a psychiatric evaluation of the offender and the presentation of that report, probation, and other social impact reports.
When asked whether there was anything he wished to say, an incensed Jhagroo loudly protested his innocence, contending that he had been framed and thrown in jail by police.
“I don’t know how the jury ain’t see this,” he angrily enquired before stating that he was being victimized.
It had been the State’s case that Jhagroo, called ‘Tanky’, 50, formerly of Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara hit the now-dead 22-year-old off his motorcycle on the day in question.
The court had heard that Narine, called ‘Marko’ was on his way home, when Jhagroo lashed him off his motorbike and then threw him overboard.
His remains were found the next day in a trench at Leguan.
A post-mortem examination would later confirm that the Endeavour, Leguan, Essequibo River labourer, died as a result of drowning.
The autopsy also revealed that he had been severely beaten, as evidenced by the blunt trauma to his face and hands.
Jhagroo was represented by defence attorney Latchmie Rahamat, while the State’s case was presented by Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken.
The trial was heard at the High Court at Suddie.
