Latest update April 12th, 2025 6:32 PM
Latest News
- OPR, RSS begin investigation into police killings of Linden youths
- Guyana’s oil continues to shine as Hess’ top seller
- Govt. in talks with GuySuCo to revive private cane farming in Region 3-Pres. Ali
- “You can’t die with me,” mother’s final words before saving son in Berbice River boat mishap
- US judge finds that Columbia University activist in solidarity with Palestine can be deported
“Bruk Up” appeals 20-year sentence for killing homeless man
Shawn Harris has mounted an appeal against his conviction and subsequent life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years for the murder of 42-year-old Sunil Singh, who was reportedly homeless.
JAILED: Shawn Harris called ‘Bruk Up’
In a Notice of Appeal lodged with the Court of Appeal, 31-year-old Harris, called ‘Bruk Up’, is asking that his conviction and sentence be quashed.
On January 16, last, Harris was found guilty by a jury of the February 5, 2017, murder of Singh.
Singh, also known as ‘Grey’ was killed while trying to prevent a robbery from happening at the Blue Martini Night Club on Lamaha Street, Georgetown. Reports surrounding the killing indicate that Singh wrestled a bandit and his accomplices to prevent them from carrying out an early morning attack at the nightspot. It was then he was repeatedly stabbed about his body.
At the time of the robbery, a police release stated that three men had visited the club after a police patrol went to enforce the 2am curfew. Singh, after observing the men acting suspiciously outside the nightclub, alerted a bartender, who refused the men access to the club by telling them it was closed.
An altercation ensued between the bartender and one of the men, who stabbed the bartender to his left arm. Singh intervened and was struck to the head.
During the trial, the prosecution led compelling evidence against Harris. The prosecution had relied heavily on CCTV footage obtained from the nightclub. In the footage, according to the prosecution, Harris was seen stabbing Singh. The prosecutors argued that Harris stabbed Singh with the intent to kill or cause him serious bodily harm.
To support this, was the evidence of Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, who testified that Sunil Singh was stabbed three times. The doctor gave the cause of death as perforation of the lungs.
Police Inspector Prem Narine testified that Harris admitted to stabbing Singh. Inspector Narine told the court that on February 18, 2017, he went to ‘B’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown where he contacted Harris, whom he had known for over a year.
According to Inspector Narine, he put a murder allegation to Harris and cautioned him. He said that Harris then replied, “Sir when I reach the station, I gon tell you wha’ happen.” The police witness told the court that he noticed some wounds on Harris, and instead escorted him to the hospital. He said that Harris told him that he came about his injuries after falling down a flight of stairs at the Blue Martini Night Club.
The police witness said that the murder accused was taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, where he agreed to give a statement. Inspector Narine explained that Harris told him it was not a robbery, but a fight, after identifying himself on CCTV footage obtained from the nightclub.
According to Inspector Narine, Harris told him “Yuh see wha’ I tell yuh? Is dem man attack me at the bar and I attack them.”
It was then, Inspector Narine recounted, that Harris said that prior to going to the nightclub, he and his friends were drinking at Seeta’s Bar. Harris, Inspector Narine said, told him that one of the men, ‘Buck Man’, hit him with a baton.
As a result, Inspector Narine said, Harris told him they ended up in a fight during which he pulled out a knife and stabbed Singh and ‘Buck Man’.
Harris told the police witness that Singh ran out of the nightclub and onto a nearby street. He told detectives that he learnt of Singh’s death the following day.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Mashing an ants’ nest
Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- The People’s Progressive Party Civic has always believed in its own myth. It has fashioned... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
