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Mash night killers get 75 years each
“I am innocent of this charge,” were the identical words uttered by the two persons implicated in the Mash
Murdered: Kumar Mohabir
night mob killing of businessman, Kumar Mohabir. They had just been found guilty by a panel of jurors for a crime they committed back in February, 2013.
Devon Thomas, 22, a construction worker from lot 95 Better Hope South, East Coast Demerara and his co-accused, nineteen year- old, Randy Isaac were jailed for 75 years each by Justice Navindra Singh, yesterday.
The Judge handed down the sentence at the Georgetown High Court following a unanimous guilty verdict which was delivered by a mixed panel of jurors.
The duo is charged with the murder of Mohabir, called “Duksy” and “Fire Link” of Lot 7 Fernandes Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD). He was attacked and brutally stabbed by a drunken mob on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, on February 23, 2013.
The man, who operated a tent rental business at his residence, was attacked after he went to the location to collect a tent he rented to his neighbours for the Republic Day celebrations.
He was stabbed by a group of intoxicated persons, armed with broken bottles. The businessman was subsequently rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where he died while receiving treatment.
Following the incident, the victim’s older brother, Navindra Mohabir, who was also wounded in the attack, identified two suspects, (Thomas and Isaac) as the persons who participated in the incident which led to his
Murdered: Kumar Mohabir
sibling’s demise.
Yesterday, the jury panel spent almost three hours deliberating before returning to the courtroom with the verdict.
Both men pleaded their innocence after they were given a chance to respond to the announcement by the jury. “I am innocent of this charge. The only one can judge me is Allah” Thomas said holding a copy of the Quran. His co -accused also uttered the identical words claiming that he is innocent.
At the verdict, tears welled up in the eyes of some members of the courtroom audience. Others opted to leave the courtroom after hearing the jury’s decision; they were prevented from doing so by the court orderlies.
The duo was represented by Attorneys-at-Law, Latchmie Rahamat, and Peter Hugh, who both made pleas of mitigation prior to sentencing. The Attorneys asked the court to consider their clients’ age and criminal background.
The lawyers held that both accused had unblemished records; no previous convictions or brushes with the law. Isaac’s Attorney, Peter Hugh, specifically asked the court to consider minimal sentencing in light of those circumstances.
Outside the courtroom relatives of the accused expressed disgust at the lengthy sentences.
“What man? Dem boys is animals? They didn’t deserve that time,” were just some of the sentiments expressed
Murder Accused: Devon Thomas
by those of the crowd at the hearing yesterday.
Justice Singh had explained that the sentences started with a base of 60 years, 10 years was added for the injuries inflicted and five years for cruelty.
The men will have to serve at least 40 years before the possibility of parole. Police reports had indicated that the victim was stabbed several times about the body around 19:45 hrs on February 23, 2013 in the vicinity of Vlissengen Road, Thomas Lands. He succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital the following day. His brother, 30-year-old Narendra Mohabir, also sustained multiple stab wounds, after he threw himself on his mortally wounded sibling to stop the brutal attack. He was treated at the institution but was not admitted.
The motive of the attack is still unclear, but it has been reported that the brawl occurred shortly after the victim had dismantled a tent he rented to neighbours for the Mashramani celebrations.
The matter was prosecuted by State Attorneys, Stacy Goodings and Diana Kaulesar.
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