Solomon George called ‘Georgie,’ has been able to secure his release from prison over the 2016 killing of tractor operator Rampersaud Rattan, after a judge sentenced him to time-served.
At his sentencing hearing yesterday morning, High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry noted that having spent the last nine jail years on remand, which she noted is itself a sentence; George was being freed.
An elated George was high in praise of the Court for its decision.
After hearing that he would be sentenced to time-served, George enquired eagerly on the Zoom platform through which he appeared whether it meant that he would be getting his freedom back.
Once he heard the confirmation from the Judge and his attorney, a visibly relieved George could not stop waving and clapping in expression of gratitude.
George had been charged with the murder of Rattan, whom he had stabbed during an argument.
At his arraignment last month, however, he pleaded to the lesser offence of manslaughter, admitting that on August 8th, 2016 at Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, he unlawfully killed Rattan.
Prosecutor Latifah Elliot had asked the Court to impose on George a sentence which she said would be capable of sending a strong message of deterrence to potential offenders.
She had also asked the judge to have regard to the seriousness and prevalence of the offence and the use of a dangerous weapon—a knife.
Defence attorney Teriq Mohammed in his mitigating plea, however, begged the Judge to consider that it was Rattan who was the aggressor, launching the attack, and that his client had retaliated only to defend himself.
He also commended for the Court’s consideration, his client’s previous unblemished record and the fact that at the first given opportunity, he accepted responsibility for his actions and did not waste the Court’s time in otherwise having to conduct a trial.
The lawyer also asked the Judge to have regard to the offender’s own expression of remorse.
In his brief address to court, a teary-eyed George sought to convey how sincerely sorry he was for what transpired on that fateful day, ending in the loss of a life.
To the wife, child and other loved ones of the deceased, George’s message was that he regretted what happened; even as he begged them for forgiveness and the Court for mercy.
“I am a changed person today,” he added just as he ended his address.
In an impact statement read on behalf of the dead man’s wife, the court heard of pleas for justice, especially for his young daughter who she said must go on to face life without her father with whom she was close.
The court heard of the woman battling depression since the loss of her husband; but noting that some solace would be had, especially for her daughter, knowing that justice is served for her father’s death.
Justice Beharry commenced sentence at a base of 15 years and made a one-third deduction for the offender’s guilty plea.
From the remaining 10 years, further deductions were made for the time George had spent on remand awaiting sentencing and the mitigating factors accruing in his favour.
Once all the deductions were made, the Judge said that George was being sentenced to time-served.
Background
This newspaper had previously reported that Rattan, 28, called “Arnold” and “Rampo,” of Lot 299 Long Pond, Sisters Village, was stabbed once to the chest during an argument. He was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he died while receiving medical attention.
A post-mortem examination revealed that he died as a result of a puncture to the heart.
The police, in a statement, had said that Rattan and the suspect had an argument, during which the suspect stabbed him in his chest.
Stabroek News was told that the fatal altercation occurred while Rattan was assisting his relatives in cleaning the yard following celebrations for his brother-in-law’s wedding.
The dead man’s mother-in-law had said that he was attempting to get his assailant off of the property, since he was misbehaving, but the suspect whipped out a knife and stabbed him.
