Latest update March 26th, 2026 7:55 AM
Man gets fifteen years for assaulting stepfather with glass bottle
(Kaieteur News) – Mulshankar Sukhran, who was on remand for viciously attacking his uncle, who is also his stepfather, was on Wednesday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. The ruling was made by Justice Deborah Kumar at the Berbice High Court.
Sukhran, 34, pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempt murder, but submitted a guilty plea for felonious wounding, contrary to Section 57(a) of the Criminal Law (Offenses) Act, Chapter 8:01, Laws of Guyana.
Jailed: Mulshankar Sukhran
The incident dates back to July 16, 2021, in which Sukhran, of No.79 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, violently assaulted 58-year-old Yughanraj Sukhran, also of the same address. The two are closely acquainted, with the victim being the paternal uncle of the accused.
The court heard that the complainant was at his home, when he was approached by Sukhran who issued profanity-laced death threats and also hurled glass bottles at him, resulting in cuts to his foot. The victim attempted to go to the police station, but was intercepted by Sukhran, whose threats intensified. The accused brandished pieces of broken bottles in both hands, and advanced across the road towards the complainant, scrambling him by his vest and repeating his death threats. The complainant pleaded with him to desist and calm down.
Sukhran then fired several jabs to the complainant’s stomach with the sharp objects. The victim ran into a neighbour’s yard but was pursued by the accused, who dealt him another stab. The injured man was subsequently taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was examined by a doctor. He received two stab wounds to the abdomen, 1 centimeter each, and a 5-centimeter stab wound to the upper anterior right thorax, certified by the doctor as life-threatening. The victim was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.
Mulshankar Sukhran leaving the Berbice High Court on Wednesday.
On April 8, 2022, police successfully made contact with Sukhran, who claimed that the man had been a menace to himself and his mother. Sukhran also told police that he was also threatened and chased with a pitchfork, and also attacked with an iron bar by the complainant.
During the trial, Attorney-at-law Sasha Roberts represented the defendant, while Prosecutor Marisa Edwards represented the state.
Asked if he would like to address the court, the accused bluntly declined.
In her summary of the aggravating factors, Justice Kumar upheld that the offence is a serious one. The accused’s actions, she noted, were very dangerous and that not only did he follow through with his threats to harm, but continued to inflict more harm on the incapacitated man. She also cited the doctor’s report of the gravity of the victim’s injury, and also his age. The victim’s impact statement was also considered, in which he noted that he was unable able to work properly owing to shortness of breath and constant pain. This impeded his ability to earn as the sole breadwinner of his home. He also stated that he suffered psychologically due to being threatened with death by the accused while same was in prison.
Turning to the mitigating circumstances, the Judge considered Sukhran’s immediate guilty plea and acceptance of responsibility. His probation report revealed that he was described as a good and quiet individual, who only acted out of character when intoxicated.
Justice Kumar gave the starting point as 25 years. It was broken down to 23 years when considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances as well as the accused’s age. This was further reduced on the basis of his guilty plea, and the time already served in prison on remand, commencing from his admission date of September 26, 2024.
Concluding her calculations, Sukhran was sentenced to 15 years, 6 months’ imprisonment, with orders that he enlist in alcohol rehabilitation and anger management programmes.
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