A TEARY-eyed Travis McDougall still clutching his Bible was on Monday sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for the August 18, 2014 murder of miner, Ashokkoemar Ragghu at the traffic light at Regent Street and Vlissengen Road during the furtherance of an armed robbery.

At the last criminal assizes, a 12-member jury found him guilty of manslaughter after which his sentencing was set for Monday after a probation report was recommended. Probation and Social Services Officer, Alicia October, presented the probation report in court which was tendered.

Ragghu and his wife, Shyrazadi were in a motorcar that had stopped at the traffic light, when two men rode up on a motorcycle and took away their belongings.
It had been further alleged that one of the men grabbed a haversack containing $4M, but Shyrazadi held on to it even as she was shot in the thigh. McDougall is alleged to have shot and killed the Kitty businessman and injured his wife, Shyrazadi, on August 18, 2014, during the furtherance of a robbery at around 13:30hrs at the traffic lights at the junction of Regent Street and Vlissengen Road, in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens.
Ragghu was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital. In July 2015, Travis McDougal was committed to stand trial for murder along with pork-knocker Jermaine Otto, who was one of the prisoners who perished in the deadly Camp Street prison fire, following riots in March last year. Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, testified that the cause of death of the victim was a perforated lung due to a gunshot.

Meanwhile, in his plea of mitigation, defence counsel Nigel Hughes asked for mercy for his client who he said grew up in difficult circumstances after his father passed away and followed bad company as a resident of East Ruimveldt. He told the court that his client who is still in his 20s, came from humble background and had no prior incident but was led astray by his association to elements in that area.

Hughes related that McDougall was unaware that Jermaine Otto called “Fungus” was going to commit a crime with a gun when he offered to drop him to his mechanic on that fateful day.
He added that nevertheless a life was lost and his client is very remorseful and regretful of the incident. Counsel related that McDougall is still young and is willing to turn his life around, and asked the judge to give him a sentence from which he will be able to come out of prison and contribute to society.

Hughes told the court that McDougall is a model prisoner and is willing to reform himself if given the opportunity. In response state prosecutor, Tuanna Hardy, told the court that it was a heinous crime perpetrated by the accused and his partner who is deceased and they put the lives of others in danger, since a gun was involved. She explained that the miner was killed after he was shot and robbed of his material possessions, while his wife who was also shot survived and testified in the trial.

Hardy said that Mrs. Ragghu almost lost her life too, as such the maximum sentence should be given. Justice Navindra Singh told the court that after listening to Defence Counsel, Nigel Hughes, he took into account McDougall’s participation in prison programmes.He handed down a sentence in which McDougall can still come out of jail in good time to repay his community.
The judge sentenced McDougall to 25 years in jail and asked that time served be deducted from the sentence and suggested that he apply for parole for his good behaviour in prison.