A man was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Tuesday for the 2018 killing of a 72-year-old pensioner.
Joseph Rameshwar, 30, appeared before Justice Damone Younge at the High Court in Demerara where he was handed his sentence for the murder of Jerry Rambhir.
Defence attorney Lyndon Amsterdam told the court that Rameshwar had accepted responsibility for the killing, attributing his actions to alcohol consumption. He claimed that an altercation occurred after Rambhir allegedly attempted to steal Rameshwar’s cellphone.
According to prosecutors Muntaz Ali, Alvaro Ramotar, and Darren Chin, Rameshwar found Rambhir sleeping in a car owned by his father. A confrontation ensued, during which Rameshwar retrieved a rolling pin from his home and struck the pensioner multiple times.
Rambhir was discovered unconscious on July 1, 2018, in Good Intent, West Bank Demerara. He succumbed to his injuries two days later while receiving medical treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
During sentencing, Justice Younge considered several aggravating factors, including the victim’s age, the use of a weapon, and the fact that he was known to the accused. She initially set the sentence at 20 years but deducted time for a favourable probation report and the period Rameshwar had already spent on remand, resulting in a final sentence of 12 years.
Rambhir’s brother, Ricky Rambhir, told the court that the family sought justice for their loved one, whom he described as a beloved figure.
Before sentencing, Rameshwar addressed the victim’s family, saying, “I want to apologize to the family.”
