ANDREW Albert was late yesterday sentenced to 25 years imprisonment on the lesser count of manslaughter for the August 10, 2010 killing of Nandlall Bhopat, after a unanimous verdict by the 12-member jury at the Demerara Assizes before Justice Navindra Singh.

The jury after much deliberation, following the summation by Justice Singh, found the accused guilty of manslaughter and not guilty for murder.

According to the allegation, the accused was said to have stabbed 43-year-old Bhopat during a row over a bicycle at a culvert corner at De Groot, Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, on August 10, 2010. Subsequent to the stabbing, Bhopat was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he died on August 13, 2010. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be perforation of the spleen and blood vessels due to 14 incised stab wounds.

Albert had denied stabbing the 43-year-old deceased and said he acted in self-defence.

Justice Singh told the court that five years will be reduced from his 25-year sentence since he was incarcerated for that time and would not be eligible for parole after 15 years.

He told Albert that he would come out of jail at an age when he can still contribute meaningfully to society and all was not lost although he stood shackled in the prisoner’s dock with a weary expression.

Justice Singh, after reading out the sentence explained that the jury had found Albert guilty of manslaughter since they believed he was provoked by the deceased but the 14 incised wounds he inflicted on the deceased was too excessive.

When asked whether he had anything to say before the sentence was read by Justice Singh, Albert responded in the negative but his attorney George Thomas on his behalf told the court that the accused was only 25 years of age when the incident took place.

He added that the accused has four children and had no previous brushes with the law. He said also that he has shown the potential to change and while in prison for the five years he gained a life skill and did not have any problems with the prison authorities. The attorney then asked that a minimum sentence be given considering these circumstances.

State Prosecutor Narissa Leander told the court, however, that the maximum sentence should be handed down to the accused considering the severity of the injuries received by the deceased.

After the sentence was read by Justice Singh, a seemingly composed Albert was led out of the court while his relatives were seen crying as they exited the court.

By Michel Outridge