Through Plea Agreement
JUSTICE William Ramlal yesterday sentenced 22-year old Daywan Kawal to seven years imprisonment for the unlawful killing of taxi driver, Deonarine Sukhdeo, in April, 2006. It was the first sentence by Judge Ramlal under a Plea Bargaining Agreement which the judge was entitled to reject or accept.
The Plea Agreement between the accused and the Director of Public Prosecutions was made under Section 9 of the Criminal Procedure ( Plea Bargaining and Plea Arrangemenrt) Act of 2008, and dated April  6, 2010.
The accused, represented by Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Peter Hugh, is jointly charged with another man for  the offence of murder. Kawal said in the Agreement that he is willing to plead guilty to the offence of manslaughter and serve a five-year sentence with respect to the said charge.
In the Agreement, Counsel said that he was further instructed by his client who is willing to give evidence against his partner in crime.
According to State Prosecutor, Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin,  taxi driver Deonarine Sukhdeo operated his vehicle from the Cheddi  Jagan International  Airport.  She said that the accused and his companion met Sukhdeo at Grove.
They hired his taxi to take them  somewhere on the highway for $1,500 .  They lured the taxi driver to a lonely spot on the highway , where they robbed and stabbed him to death.
The other accused, who is in custody and is to face a separate trial, is claiming that Kawal dealt the fatal stab, while  Kawal is accusing  the other accused of committing the crime.
Other information which did not reach the Court was to the effect that  Sukhdeo was  begging for his life when one of the accused said , “He knows us, we have to kill him.”
It is said that after the death of the taxi driver,  persons contacted his family  demanding a ransom to produce the man who was already dead .