Eleven years for Diamond Housing Scheme killing

Mar 16, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Christopher Da Silva, 23, of Diamond Housing Scheme was on Tuesday sentenced to 11 years in

Christopher Da Silva, leaves the courtroom following the sentence on Tuesday.

prison for the unlawful killing of Riad Khan.
The incident took place at 17th Avenue Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, (EBD) on June 28, 2012.
The young man was stabbed in the chest by Da Silva following an altercation on the day in question. But according to the caution statement Da Silva gave to police officers following his arrest, he was with his girl when he was confronted by Khan and two of his friends.
The information provided to the court recorded the accused as telling the police, “I was with me girl when she come out of practice and I was talking to her when Riad came up and ask if I want done it now. He slap me.”
“Two guys were with he; one of them went at the back of me, he had a knife. I tek it away and push he down and go back and bore Riad who had the gun and run away. I throw away the knife in the yard.”
On Tuesday, Da Silva who was initially indicted for murder pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed twelve member jury.
He was represented by Attorney-at-law, Maxwell Mc Kay.
Mc Kay asked the court to be lenient with his client. He disclosed that his client had been incarcerated for the past five years with his family as his only support base for that time.
Mc Kay noted that his client was a teenager at the time of his incarceration but he is now a boxing champion in the prisons.
However, State Prosecutor, Siand Dhurjon, asked the court to consider that the deceased was 17 years old when he died; he was full of potential, a top student of his school and the only son for his father. He therefore asked the court to mete out a sentence in accordance with the act committed.
Dhurjon represented the State in association with Attorney-at -law, Tuanna Hardy.
In answer to questions from the Judge, Da Silva told the court that he understood that he could be sentenced to a term of imprisonment. He reaffirmed to the court that he had not taken drugs or alcohol in the last 24 hours. He said that he clearly understood and agreed to plead to the lesser count.
As a result the jury was directed to enter a formal plea of not guilty for murder and guilty to manslaughter.
When the Judge permitted him to speak, Da Silva told the court that that his time in prison has been difficult on his family given that his mother is a single parent and was supporting him. His family members who were seated in the gallery became emotional at this point.
Da Silva said that he was sorry for his actions and also apologized to the father of the deceased who was seated in the court.
In response, Justice Singh told the killer that it is unfortunate that he got himself into trouble but that he should use the experience as a lesson learnt.
“I trust that you will pursue a meaningful life… but a life has been lost.”
The Judge therefore sentenced Da Silva to 11 years in prison for manslaughter.
Five years was deducted from the 11 sentence for the time the man would have spent on remand.

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