FIVE years after a 55-year-old woman and her nine-year-old granddaughter were killed, while in their home in Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, their killer was, on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, sentenced to life imprisonment for the heinous crime.
Joshua Eze Franklin was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole, by Justice Sandil Kissoon, at the High Court

On October 1, 2019, Franklin, who was initially indicted on two counts of murder, opted to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter.
He admitted that, on December 18, 2014, at Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, he unlawfully killed his mother-in-law, Bibi Zalima Khan, and step-daughter, Ashley Boodhoo.

Franklin’s attorney Mark Conway requested a probation report be prepared for his client before sentencing.

On Wednesday, the probation report which was read in court detailed the abusive relationship between Franklin and his reputed wife.
However, Franklin claimed he was provoked by his reputed wife who was cheating on him.
During a plea of mitigation, attorney-at-law Conway said that Franklin was remorseful and apologised for his actions.

State Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs asked the court to consider, during sentencing, that Franklin used his skill as a canecutter to slaughter nine- year- old Ashley and her 55-year-old grandmother.

On December 18, 2014, Franklin went to his mother-in-law’s home and carried out a ‘chopping spree’, while armed with a cutlass. He attacked Khan and dealt her several chops with the cutlass before turning his attention to Ashley Boodhoo. The child was chopped about her body.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that, during the melee, Franklin attacked his reputed wife and dealt her several chops about her body.

The woman managed to escape from the house and hid in the verandah of a neighbour’s house. She lost her left hand from the wrist down due to the attack. Her friend, Floyd Drakes, was allegedly attacked and killed by Franklin.

Prosecutor Gibbs asked the state to send a strong message to perpetrators and potential perpetrators, who would consider similar crimes.
In his address to the court, Franklin said “I’m sorry for what happened.”
Justice Kissoon considered the domestic abuse history Franklin had along with the nature and seriousness of the charges.

For the murder of his mother-in-law, Franklin was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years.

He was sentenced to the same terms of imprisonment for killing his step daughter. The sentences will run concurrently.