Farmer jailed 10 years for killing cousin

Apr 19, 2018 Court Stories, News

JAILED: Phillip Sutherland

A father of two was yesterday sent to prison for 10 years after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He acknowledged that on January 9, 2014 at the Rupununi, he unlawfully killed Martin Roberts, his cousin.
Phillip Sutherland, a farmer and clerk of Annai, Region One, was arraigned on a murder charge yesterday before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Georgetown. That charge had alleged that on the above mentioned date, he murdered Roberts.
However, Sutherland, who was represented by Attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon, opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. The state was represented by Prosecutors Mandel Moore and Lisa Cave.
Reports indicate that Phillip Sutherland and his brother, Franklin Sutherland, were initially charged with the killing. Prior to the killing, the brothers and Roberts had travelled to Quamatta Village Farm and upon returning home, began to imbibe yeast tonic (an Amerindian alcoholic beverage).
Sometime after, an argument ensued. Roberts was badly beaten and left unconscious. He died as a result of asphyxiation and a broken larynx, compounded by blunt trauma to the head.
During a plea of mitigation, Dhurjon told the court that his client deeply regrets his actions.
According to the lawyer, Phillip wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and also served as a village counsellor in a Rupununi village.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Kissoon underlined that alcohol consumption is a dilemma in society and is responsible for 50 percent of domestic violence and gender based murders.

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