PLANTAIN farmer Samwill Intiaz Shaw, called Taliban and Arno, along with his farmhand Ramsammy Angeshallam, called Babs, were on Monday sentenced at the Berbice Assizes in the attempted murder of plantain farmer Bajai Ramdass. The two were found guilty by the jury on January 21 last, but had to await a probation report on their background before sentencing.

Justice Franklyn Holder expressed disappointment with the lack of professionalism that went into preparation of the report, which was presented by Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer Ms Voonashawarie Gopaul. The Judge noted that the report was intended to be an investigative one, and as such, the information garnered from the virtual complainant, Bajai Ramdass, should have been recorded.

Admonishing the Officer, the Judge questioned her length of employment, and asked whether there was on-the-job training. “You were asked to complete a report to assist us with the sentencing of the accused men. Greater effort must be exercised. Be professional!” he chided.

Earlier, Gopaul told the Judge and mixed jury that Shaw, 52, is a Canadian citizen and a married father of six children, who are all living overseas. In Canada he is a Chief Operator, but while in his homeland, where he visits every three months, he is a farmer. Information gathered from his neighbours and close relatives described Shaw as a person of peaceful disposition.

Angeshallam, 56, was also described as peaceful. He was employed at the Crabwood Creek Neighbourhood Democratic Council, and was a part-time employee of Shaw. He fathered five children, one of whom is a convicted prisoner at the New Amsterdam Prison.

The Judge said: “The jury has found both of you guilty (of) attempted murder. They were sure that you attempted to kill Bajai Ramdass at the back of Crabwood Creek. I ask myself what drives one to commit such an act. I would appreciate if it was done in self-defence. Without this reason, how could the two of you commit such an act? Was it because he was picking plantains?

“You have given yourself the power of life and death.”

Addressing Angeshallam, the Judge said, “You are following blindly. You were an employee of Mr Shaw. That does not mean that you follow instructions on this that was wrong. You are a mature person.”

Questioned by the Judge on what they had to say before the sentence was imposed, Shaw replied, “I am sorry, Sir,” as he bowed his head. However, Angeshallam, answering with outstretched arms, said, “I am innocent of this charge.”

Consequently Shaw, being the mastermind of the act, was initially sentenced to 22 years; however, five years were deducted for the favourable probation report. His co-accused was given twelve years after similar deductions.

On January 21 last, the duo was found guilty by the mixed jury, who returned a unanimous verdict after deliberating for just over two hours.
The indictment, to which they had pleaded not guilty, revealed that on January 16, 2012, at Crabwood Creek, they discharged a loaded firearm at Bajai Ramdass, called Bruck Back, with intent to murder him.

State Prosecutor Natasha Backer had led the evidence of four persons, including the victim, who is now confined to a wheelchair and is blinded in his right eye.

Ramdass had related that there was a previous incident involving him and the number one accused, with whom he sowed plantains. However, their arrangements fell apart, and as such, Shaw had refused to pay the victim. This decision resulted in a court action filed by Ramdass.

On January 16, 2012, the victim left his home along with a workman, Hazrat Ibrahim, called Buckman, to go to the disputed plantain farm at Crabwood Creek. They arrived at 06:00hrs, but before they commenced reaping, ‘Buckman complained of sustaining an injury. Ramdass then called his brother Jagdeo, known as Spraga, for assistance.

The boat was motored about 150 to 200 rods away when the two men were joined by Spraga, who arrived on a parallel dam on a motorcycle, which subsequently pulled the boat along. Shortly afterwards, the victim saw the accused men. Shaw pointed a long gun at him. His hand was on the trigger. Ramdas recalled being shot and falling helpless as blood covered his body. However, he made efforts to motor the boat, but the number two accused threw a bicycle tube in front of his boat, pulling the vessel towards Shaw, who threatened to cut out his tongue and dig out his eyes.

Further, the victim recalled Angeshallam’s attempt to lift him out of the boat, but he, Ramdass, pulled a cutlass and chopped the number two accused at the back of his neck, forcing him to flee, even as Shaw fired another shot at his [Ramdass] face.

Ramdass said he pretended to be dead. Thereafter, he saw the accused men running towards the backlands.
He was subsequently taken to the Skeldon Hospital, before being transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Meanwhile in their respective unsworn statements from the dock, the now convicted men had denied the story of the victim, and alleged that it was ‘Spraga’ who had shot his sibling.

The convicts were represented by Attorneys-at-law Mursulene Bacchus and Perry Gossai, and had been on $1M bail each.