Murder accused Lloyd Rampersaud jailed for 70 years : –shocked defence counsel gives notice of appeal

JUSTICE Navindra Singh yesterday sentenced Lloyd Rampersaud to 70 years in prison for the brutal murder of Munilall Mangru, called ‘Boy’, in the process establishing a new record for court sentencing, and sending shock waves in the court room.    The unexpected sentence caused defence counsel Mr. Euclin Gomes to get on his feet, telling the judge, “I wish to give notice of appeal.”

Looking like 40 years,  Lloyd Rampersaud was  taken away to serve his prison term;  whilst  his brother, Roy Patrick, called ‘Royee’, jointly charged with Lloyd for the murder of Munilall Mangru, called ‘Boy’, was freed by the jury.

Both brothers were indicted with having murdered Mangru in the county of Demerara at some time between February 22 and 24, 2009. They had allegedly been seen beating Mangru at the bridge linking Mon Repos and Triumph, East Coast, Demerara.   Mangru’s dead body was later found in the mud under the bridge.

The number one accused had  allegedly made a caution  statement in which he had told  how, after smoking cocaine at the bridge with ‘Boy’, ‘Boy’ had been robbed of $50,000, which was divided equally between Lloyd and another man who was an accused in the matter, but had the charge against him  withdrawn by the DPP.

The judge summed up the case in less than two hours yesterday.    
The jury had returned for further directions, but took about three hours to reach its verdicts of guilty and not guilty, after which the judge told Roy, “You are discharged. You are free to leave”.
In relation to Lloyd Rampersaud,  according to law, he should have been sentenced to death, but defence counsel told the judge that since the  death sentence seemed to be overlooked these days, he was asking that the  court temper justice  with mercy when meting out a prison sentence for the accused.

The judge, who had recently   jailed a murder convict for 60 years, noted that this particular offence was a brutal murder, for which he was imposing 70 years’ imprisonment.

Prosecutors in the case were Mrs. Konyo Thompson and Miss Dhanika Singh.
Mr. Euclin Gomes represented both accused, and obtained an acquittal and a conviction. He has notified the court of his intention to appeal the conviction.

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