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12 years for remorseful man who killed friend at Port Kaituma
JAILED: Ignatius France
Thirty-five year old, Ignatius France had a change of heart as his murder trial wound down yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.
He threw himself at the mercy of the court when he discontinued the trial, after opting to plead guilty to the lesser charge manslaughter.
He was initially indicted for murder by State Prosecutors Teriq Mohamed, Abigail Gibbs and Tuanna Hardy.
France who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay admitted that on May 11, 2012 at Canal Bank, Port Kaituma, he unlawfully killed Mark Ashby.
According to information, on the day in question, France and his brother were out drinking when they got into an argument.
Both brothers were reportedly intoxicated and during the argument, they began to fight.
While they fought, the now dead Ashby reportedly came up to the brothers, allegedly drunk himself, and ordered the brothers to stop fighting.
Subsequently, a fight erupted between France and Ashby. France left the fight and returned with a cutlass, which he used to chop Ashby to the neck.
In addressing the court, yesterday, France expressed remorse for what he had done. He said that he had been on his best behaviour while in jail and has not gotten himself into trouble with any of the other prisoners.
Justice Singh advised France that he must stop drinking alcohol since it is what caused the problem. “Change your ways,” Justice Singh told France, who in turn, said that he learnt to read and write while in jail.
State Prosecutor Teriq Mohamed requested that the sentence of the court reflect the nature and gravity of the offence.
Justice Singh, however, ordered the prison authority to deduct the time France spent on remand from the 12-year sentence.
The prosecution however said that this is outside the remit of the judge.
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