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C’tyne man gets death sentence for killing father
Sentenced to death: Gowkarran Ramdayal called “Silence”.
Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes yesterday handed down a death sentence on Gowkarran Ramdayal called “Silence”, 25, of Queenstown, Corriverton, after a mixed jury found him guilty of killing his father.
The verdict and subsequent sentence could have been handed down before the end of last year but the absence of a juror delayed the occurrence.
Prior to his conviction, Ramdayal’s state-appointed attorney, in summation, told the court about the discrepancies in the witnesses’ testimonies, pointing to evidence given by the mother and son of the accused, with regards to the different times they saw the accused beating his father.
The attorney also mentioned some discrepancies in the testimonies of the doctor.
But state prosecutor Dionne Mc Cammon in her presentation noted that even if the witnesses’ evidence was not enough, the accused can be convicted on circumstantial evidence.
Ramdayal who lived with his father, mother and younger brother is accused of killing his father, 51- year-old Bhowan Ramdayal, who died on January 16, 2008.
The senior Ramdayal was allegedly beaten with an iron bar about his body at their home after a misunderstanding between the two men on the October 10, 2007, over money.
Gowkarran Ramdayal had asked his father for $100, which the senior Ramdayal had refused to give him, telling his son that he should seek a job.
An argument then developed during which the accused picked up an iron bar and beat his father.
He then picked up a pipe and continued the beating, before walking out of the yard with the pipe in his hand.
The injured man was picked up and rushed to the Skeldon Hospital, then the New Amsterdam Hospital before being transferred to the country’s main medical institution in the city.
The elder Ramdayal was discharged from hospital a month later and stayed at his niece’s home for a while before returning to the Skeldon Hospital, after suffering a relapse.
He subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
Testifying were the mother of the accused, Durpattie Deodat, and his younger brother, Hemant, who both testified of being at home on the day in question and witnessing the accused injuring his father.
Next on the witness stand was the dead man’s niece, Anganie Ramdayal, called “Sisto”.
Policeman, Corporal Eman Fordyce testified of the role he played in conducting the investigation and witnessing the post mortem which was conducted by Doctor Vivekanand Brijmohan at the Skeldon Hospital.
Doctor Brijmohan also testified and gave the cause of death as septicemia and fractures to the skull.
Before the trial had commenced, the judge had ordered a psychiatric evaluation of the accused after he refused to speak when he was questioned by the clerk of court, his attorney and the judge.
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