TWENTY-year-old Christopher Cheong, called Chris, was, on Friday, sentenced by High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon, to seven years in prison for the murder of 49-year-old James Stewart, called “Buby.”

Cheong’s sentencing comes four months after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, though being charged with the capital offence of murder. He had confessed to Justice Kissoon at the Demerara High Court, in mid-March, that he had killed Stewart. On Friday (July 10), Justice Kissoon started at a base of 25 years, however, 1/3 was deducted because Cheong had pleaded guilty to the offence early. However, two (2) years were added for aggravating factors presented by the State, and eight (8) years subtracted for the mitigation plea by the Defence, and another four (4) years subtracted for time served on remand. Thus, the 20-year-old was sentenced to serve seven years imprisonment for manslaughter.

According to the records of the court, Cheong committed the act at the age of 16. The records show that at about 2:00hrs on July 17, 2016, Cheong, while under the influence of alcohol, went to his cousin’s house at David Rose Street, Bagotsville, West Bank Demerara, and strapped himself with a hammer.
He then made his way to Unity Street, La Grange where Stewart was at the time, and dealt him a lash to head with that hammer.

After hammering Stewart to death, the teenager then made his way back to his cousin’s David Rose Street home, and disclosed that he had killed someone. According to the court records, at the time of the conversation with his cousin, Cheong’s clothing was bloody, as well as the hammer he was holding. At about 05:00hrs on July 17, 2016, police found the lifeless body of Stewart lying in a pool of blood on Unity Street. According to the post mortem report, the 49-year-old man died from cerebral haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt traumas to the head compounded by broncho-aspiration of blood. On July 6, 2017, Cheong was committed to stand trial. He was represented by Max McKay. The State was represented by Nafeeza Baig and Tuanna Hardy.