Man jailed 20 years for killing girlfriend

Jun 29, 2023 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Kaieteur News – Durn Hunt, called ‘Rastaman’ was on Wednesday sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, for the 2018 murder of his girlfriend, Itashia Frank, a mother of two.

Hunt of Lot 108 Crane Street, Queenstown, Corriverton, Berbice, was sentenced by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Berbice High Court. In May last, when Hunt was arraigned for the murder indictment he pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on October 15, 2018, he murdered his girlfriend.

Dead, Itashia Frank

Jailed, Durn Hunt

During the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, a probation report in favour of Hunt was read to the court. A probation officer told the court that the villagers are scared of Hunt, since he would have a mental breakdown, operates in a dangerous manner, and threatens them. It was stated too that the villagers expressed that they feel safer now that Hunt is behind bars.

Notably, it was revealed that Hunt was a user of illicit drugs like marijuana. The court heard that since being incarcerated, Hunt has been taking his medication for his mental illness. State Prosecutor, Attorney-at-Law Muntaz Ali in his remarks to the court requested that the sentence reflects the punishment equivalent for the crime, adding that it should send a message that violence against women should not be tolerated.

Justice Morris-Ramlall in her sentencing remarks described Hunt’s actions as “cruel” adding that he did not value his partner’s life. The judge said too that violence by intimate partner is like a plague to society. Justice Morris-Ramlall sentenced Hunt to 20 years imprisonment and ordered that the time he spent on remand be deducted from his sentence. Prosecutor Ali while presenting the state’s case had said that on the day in question, around 08:30 hours at Crane Street, Queenstown, Corriverton, an argument ensued between Frank and Hunt.

It was stated that during the argument at the couple’s home, the woman attempted to arm herself with a knife but Hunt grabbed it instead. The state’s case is that the woman and Hunt continued to argue which ended up on the street. While there, Hunt reportedly grabbed Frank and took her to a culvert.

The woman attempted to escape but she fell. Hunt jumped at her, while using a knife to stab her to the neck. As Frank attempted to fight off Hunt, the accused took her head and pushed it into the drain until she became motionless. The court had heard that while several persons witnessed the incident and were shouting at the accused, no one intervened. Moreover, a post-mortem examination revealed that Frank died from asphyxiation due to drowning compounded by stab wounds to the neck.

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Dead, Durn Hunt, Itashia Frank, jailed, Rastaman

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