By Michel Outridge

THE MAN who resisted objections to him urinating on a minibus in downtown Georgetown and subsequently stabbed the driver to death almost two years ago was Monday sentenced to 28 years in prison. Justice Navindra Singh handed down the sentence to Orin Jerrick after a 12-member jury, though finding him not guilty on the charge of murder, declared him guilty on the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Jerrick stood trial for the death of minibus driver, Gavin Fiffee on July 31, 2014 at Plaisance Minibus Park at Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.
According to reports, Fiffee, a father of three was loading his minibus when Jerrick began urinating on the wheel of the vehicle. Fiffee confronted him and an argument ensued, during which Jerrick reportedly stabbed him to the upper right chest. Public-spirited persons rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he later succumbed.
Following investigations into the incident, Jerrick turned himself over to the police on August 2, 2014.
Before the sentence was handed down by Justice Singh in a packed courtroom, Defence Counsel Nigel Hughes pleaded for the Judge’s leniency, saying that Jerrick was remorseful since the incident was not one of aggravated passion.
Hughes said that Jerrick was a gold miner and was on his way home when the incident occurred and he has since admitted his regrets to the family of the deceased; the lawyer pleaded too that before the incident, Jerrick had no previous brushes with the law.
He asked the Judge to consider the circumstances disclosed in the trial and asked Justice Singh to be merciful to his client due to the circumstances he found himself in.
When asked by Justice Singh if he had anything to say Jerrick denied the crime, saying, “I didn’t juk nobody at the bus park.”
In response, State Prosecutor Narissa Leander told the court that the accused was not innocent of the crime, since he committed a senseless act that left three children without a father. As such she asked the Justice Singh to impose the maximum sentence.
Justice Singh said he was not able to see a remoseful attitude from Jerrick, but was nonetheless moved by his attorney’s plea on his behalf.
Justice Singh deducted two years form Jerrick’s sentence for time he served while on remand and gave him the 28-year sentence.
After the sentence was handed down, some relatives of Jerrick were reduced to tears while relatives of the deceased, were somewhat relieved.
The state was also represented by Siand Dhurjon and Michael Shahoud while the defence was also represented by Peter Hugh and Savannah Barnwell.