A 45-year-old fisherman was, on Thursday, sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after he confessed to the gruesome killing and rape of 65-year-old Bibi Keniez whose lifeless body was found in her Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home, four years ago.

Jaipaul Hitlall called “Latta”, formerly of Anna Catherina, Sea View, WCD, was on trial before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court.

However, during the hearing on Thursday, he confessed to the offence and the trial was aborted.
He opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter which alleged that, between October 2 and October 3, 2016, he unlawfully killed Keniez. While confessing to the crime, his attorney told the court that Hitlall was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the heinous act.

State Prosecutor, Tyra Bakker, asked the court to consider, before passing sentence, that Hitlall went into Keniez’s home, raped her and after committing the heinous act he stabbed her 21 times.

The judge sentenced Hitlall to serve 20 years in prison.