Products of dysfunctional homes imprisoned for manslaughter
CONVICTED killers Hardat Singh called ‘Vickey’ and Kapaldeo Singh known as Rohan (not related) were each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on Monday for the manslaughter of Brian Chinapen. Justice Franklyn Holder imposed the custodial penalty told the prisoners, 23 and 24 years old, respectively, that they should have been asleep or doing something more constructive on August 8, 2007 at 22:00 hrs.
Having listened to a probation report on the duo, the judge observed that they may not have enjoyed the best environment for their social being but a life has been lost and questioned why they followed up a drunken, defenceless man.
Referring to Roopdai Sukhram, mother of Hardat Singh and the lover of Kapaldeo Singh, who was acquitted of the crime, the judge remarked that, as a mother, she seemed to lack moral fibre, having a relationship with a man her son’s age.
Probation and Welfare Officer Mitford Warde had reported that both offenders were products of dysfunctional homes, as they were neglected and, subsequently, abandoned by their alcoholic fathers, resulting in them being deprived of adequate nurturing and a responsible role model as a father figure.
Warde informed the court that the financial constraints the men faced also deprived them of the prospect of acquiring a sound education, which may have enabled them to be cultured and better equipped to handle what they perceive as provocation.
The guilty plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter, which was accepted by State Prosecutor Dionne Mc Cammon and permitted by the judge, happened after the second witness had testified for the prosecution.
The main eyewitness, Shameer Osman, of Chesney, had testified of seeing the convicts beating the victim with sticks before he was pronounced dead on arrival at Port Mourant Hospital, also at Corentyne, Berbice.
A post mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was shock and haemorrhage and a laceration to the right kidney.