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Man sentenced to life for money changer’s murder …must serve 50 years
Philemon Boodhoo, called “Kevin and Paio”, 22, of No 63 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, who was earlier found guilty of murder has been sentenced to life in prison. He was found guilty of murdering Mohamed Fizal Mahmood Baksh Munir, called ‘Sugar Cake’, a money changer and father of three of No. 63 Village Corentyne, Berbice.
The act was committed between December 21 and December 24, 2015 at the No. 63 Beach, Corentyne, Berbice.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry following the presentation of a probation report.
The accused was represented by attorneys Arudranauth Gossai and Mursalene Bacchus, in association with Surihya Sabsook.
Attorney-at-law Mandel Moore appeared for the state.
The report, presented by Probation and Social Services Officer, Felisha Gordon, stated that Boodhoo attended secondary school but dropped out subsequently to assist his father in his workshop. He established his own business buying and selling things around the said time he was accused of the crime.
He was described as an individual with a mixed personality.
Attorney at Law Arudranauth Gossai, in a plea of mitigation, asked the judge to temper justice with mercy. He pointed to the probation report. The age of his client, the time spent in jail, the fact that he hadn’t any previous brushes with the law. He was described as a role model in prison.
Boodhoo although maintaining his innocence, said his heart goes out to the family of the decease.
The accused, Philemon Boodhoo, being taken to prison
Justice Beharry before passing sentence told the accused that she has taken the mitigation plea of his attorney and the probation report. She said, however, that a life was lost.
A message must be sent that such acts will not be condoned. She also cited the brutal way in which the man was killed and noted that Boodhoo’s sole intention was to murder the accused.
She subsequently sentenced the accused to life in jail and instructed that he must serve 50 years before being eligible for parole.
The accused had given a written caution statement, in which he admitted to taking Baksh to the No. 63 Beach and killing him, before taking $600,000 from the deceased. He banked some of the money before leaving for Trinidad.
He also gave an unsworn statement from the dock in which he denied killing the deceased. He said that he went to Trinidad to spend the Christmas. While in Trinidad, he was informed by his relatives that the police were looking for him for a murder. He subsequently returned to Guyana and was arrested.
The prosecution’s case was that the accused made arrangements with Baksh about some financial transaction and subsequently took Baksh to the No. 63 Beach where he robbed and killed him.
Baksh’s body was discovered in a bushy section of the No. 63 Village, Corentyne foreshore, three days after he was reported missing.
The prosecution called a number of witnesses including four police officers and the wife of the decease. Government Pathologist Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan, who had performed a post mortem at the site where the body was found due to its decomposed state, gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to a fractured skull.
The decease showed some emotion as tears flowed down his face after the verdict was passed.
Baksh Munir’s wife, two of his daughters and other relatives were in court. They expressed satisfaction at the verdict, but said that cannot bring their loved one back.
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