Ten years for killing fellow fisher at Meten-Meer-Zorg

Dead: Noel Singh
Dead: Noel Singh

Ramesh Ramdeen, also known as “Braffy,” a 25-year-old fisherman from Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the killing of his fellow villager. 

Initially charged with murder, Ramdeen pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, admitting his role in the death of 27-year-old Noel Singh on October 20, 2019. 

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, presiding at the High Court in Demerara, ordered that the time Ramdeen spent in pre-trial detention since October 28, 2019, be deducted from his sentence. This adjustment adheres to the judicial principle of crediting time served in custody to ensure fairness.

According to state prosecutors Praneta Seeraj, Mikel Puran, and Rbina Christmas, the fatal incident occurred around 6:40 PM when a heated argument erupted between Ramdeen and Singh. 

The confrontation escalated when Singh, also a fisherman, struck Ramdeen multiple times with a cutlass. In retaliation, Ramdeen stabbed Singh several times with a knife before pushing him into a gutter near Singh’s residence at Lot 33, Meten-Meer-Zorg. 

The knife, retrieved from Singh’s pocket, became a key piece of evidence. Singh was found by witnesses in the gutter, but despite efforts by emergency responders, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital. 

Ramdeen was apprehended two days later at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, and subsequently provided a confession statement to law enforcement detailing his involvement in the crime. An autopsy revealed that Singh’s death was caused by stab wounds that perforated his heart. 

At Thursday’s sentencing, state attorney Mikel Puran presented a statement of aggravating factors, while a probation officer who interviewed Ramdeen noted that the offender expressed remorse. Ramdeen reportedly stated that he did not intend to kill Singh, emphasizing his regret over the tragic outcome.

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