Chanderpaul Persaud, Harilall Ramdan and Jagishwar Ghani have each been sentenced to life in prison for the 2017 stabbing death of Uitspa labourer Dhanpaul Dookie.
The sentence was imposed yesterday morning by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry who underscored the brutal manner in which Dookie was beaten and met his end during a robbery by the trio.
After considering both the mitigating and aggravating factors, the judge noted that a sentence of life in prison for each convict was appropriate.
While Persaud and Ramdan, 50 and 61 years old respectively; will be eligible for parole after 30 years; she, however, said that Ghani—the youngest who is 36 years of age—will be eligible after 25 years.
In his address to the court, attorney Dexter Todd who represented Persaud, had begged the judge to be merciful, stating that his client has had the last six years on remand to learn from his errant ways.
He commended for the judge’s consideration, what he said was his client’s show of remorse over the sad and tragic loss of life.
The lawyer who represented Ramdan and Ghani also begged Justice Sewnarine-Beharry to temper justice with mercy, stating that the two were sorry for what they had done and have the potential to be rehabilitated, as she referenced a prison report.
Ghani, she said, is still “young, full of life” and can contribute meaningfully to society; noting that from the very beginning, he has always been truthful to the court about his involvement in the crime.
In her address to the Court, however, prosecutor Caressa Henry asked the judge not to be moved by the seeming expression of remorse from Persaud and Ramdan; whom she said were not genuine.
She referenced probation reports in which the men continued to protest their innocence.
The prosecutor pointed to the fact that even though the jury had spoken, the two continued to maintain their innocence; which she said was a clear indication that they were not ready to take responsibility for the crime they had committed.
She asked the judge to have regard for the degree of violence meted out to a defenceless and unsuspecting Dookie who was not only knifed to death, but also beaten with an axe during the robbery.
Henry said, too, that the man’s grief-stricken family still finds it difficult to cope with his loss.
When given a chance to speak, Persaud said that he was sorry for what he had done and begged the judge for a second chance, stating that he wanted to be back in society.
In expressing his sympathies to Dookie’s family, an apologetic Ramdan said that he, too, was sorry. As the breadwinner of his family, however, he said that he wanted to return to his loved ones.
Meanwhile, when it came his turn to speak, Ghani said he was also sorry for the loss of life; but added, “from the Magistrate’s Court to now I am telling the truth.”
Background
Last month a jury unanimously convicted the three of murdering Dookie during a robbery between July 24th and July 26th, 2017 at Uitspa Village, Linden Highway.
The lifeless body of 51-year-old Dookie called “Paulie,” a labourer/vendor, was discovered with multiple stab wounds at his Uitspa Village, Demerara River home.
Following police investigations; Persaud, Ramdan and Ghani were arrested and charged and each detailed their involvement in the crime, police had said.
