Chainsaw operator gets 22 yrs for killing drinking buddy

Oct 26, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

A remorseful 24-year-old Morris Fredericks was sentenced to serve the next 22 years in jail after pleading guilty to killing a man by chopping him to the neck—severing his jugular vein.

JAILED: Morris Fredericks

Fredericks, of Kokerite Landing, Barima River, was initially charged with the capital offence of murder.
He however pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
On November 29, 2011 at Kokerite Landing, Region One, Fredericks killed 33-year-old Allister Crighton.
Crighton and Fredericks were friends. On the day in question, they were at a shop in the area consuming “high wine” when an argument broke out between them. Fredericks left the scene and went home where he retrieved a cutlass. He sneaked up on Crighton and dealt him a fatal shop to the neck.
The custodial sentence was handed down yesterday by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the High Court in Georgetown. Justice Morris-Ramlall started the base sentence at 40 years but deducted 18 years — 13 years for the early guilty plea and five years for the time Fredericks spent on remand pending trial.
A probation report highlighted that Fredericks had an unstable upbringing as a result of his mother constantly changing partners. The probation report pointed out that he never met his biological father and was raised by his stepfather.
According to the probation report, Fredericks dropped out of school at 11 years old after falling from a tree and injuring one of his eyes. He began working at age 14 as a chainsaw operator to support himself. The probation officer highlighted that although Fredericks has no academic qualification, he always managed to keep himself gainfully employed.
However, the probation report stated that although Fredericks was described by persons in his community as a willing and friendly individual, he gravitated to bad friends and alcohol.
State Prosecutors Seeta Bissundial and Narissa Leander asked for the maximum penalty to be imposed on the killer. According to Prosecutor Leander, Frederick’s troubled upbringing is no excuse for his thoughtless action which resulted in the death of Crighton.
In a plea of mitigation, Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay asked the court to consider his client’s early guilty plea, his age, the time he spent on remand pending trial and his remorsefulness.
Fredericks told the court, “I am sorry for the wrong I have done. I beg the court to have mercy upon me.”
Having considered the findings of the probation report, the plea of mitigation on behalf of counsel and Fredericks, Justice Morris-Ramlall imposed the custodial sentence and told Fredericks that he will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years.

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