Money changer killer appeals sentence

Jan 03, 2019 News

Philemon Boodhoo, called “Kevin and Paio”, 22, of No 63 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was sentenced to life in prison, to serve 50 years in jail before being eligible for parole.
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 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 accused in his appeal put forward a number of grounds including that his defence was not properly or fairly put to the jury by the learned Judge.
He is stating that the Judge erred in law when she ruled that verbal “admission” he made was admissible in evidence when the Magistrate did not find that the admission was given freely and voluntarily.
He is also contending that inadmissible evidence, prejudicial to a fair trial, was admitted by the Judge.
Another point in contention was that the learned Judge applied no or the wrong principles of law in admitting the “confession” into evidence.
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 then left for Trinidad.
He also gave an unsworn statement from the dock in which he denied killing the deceased. 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.

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