BUSINESSMAN Robert Benn was on Tuesday sentenced to six-and-a-half years imprisonment for the 2016 shooting death of Colin Perreira, and the attempted murder of his girlfriend, Gail-Ann Chacon.

Benn appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court, and opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He also admitted that he attempted to kill the woman.

He admitted that on August 23, 2016 at Tucville, he unlawfully killed Perreira, called ‘Malcolm’. Benn also admitted that on the said day and at the said location, he discharged a loaded firearm at Chacon, with intent to murder her.
He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd, while the State was represented by Prosecutor Tyra Bakker.
The State’s case is that on the day in question at about 21:30hrs, 24-year-old Perreira was driving a heavily-tinted motorcar, while his girlfriend was seated in the front passenger seat.

He attempted to turn his vehicle onto Benn’s driveway, and in the process, the accused, who was in his yard, drew his handgun and discharged several rounds at the vehicle, hitting the victims about their bodies.
Perreira was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), while Chacon was admitted but later discharged.

Todd told the court that Benn deeply regrets the incident, and is remorseful for his actions. He said that at the time of the incident, his client had been living in fear, since several threats had been made on his life.
The lawyer contended that his client felt threatened when he saw the car turning on his bridge, since he believed that the vehicle had potential bandits, so he shot at it.

As it relates to his life behind bars, Todd told the court that Benn has donated three computer systems to the prison to assist inmates in developing their skills.
Further, the court was told that Benn has been working with the prison authorities to help develop various rehabilitation courses for inmates.

Perreira’s mother, Cerene Roberts, in an impact statement to the court, said that in 2018, after numerous pleas from Benn for an audience with her, she finally caved in and went to meet him at prison.

During the meeting, the woman said, her son’s killer showed no remorse, but instead wrote her a letter justifying his actions.

Roberts also revealed to the court that Benn offered her $4M as compensation, but she refused to accept it.
This, she said, led to Benn harassing her on the phone, and also having his relatives approach her pastor to have him persuade her to take the compensation.

Justice Singh sentenced Benn to serve six-and-a-half years for manslaughter, and four for the attempted murder charge.

The sentencing will run concurrently, and Justice Singh ordered that the prison authorities deduct the time Benn spent in pre-trial custody from the sentence.