-co-accused in Bath arson/murder gets 19 years

ONE day after being sentenced to life in prison for a double murder, Rooplall Abrahim was, on Tuesday, given a second life sentence for the 2016 fiery death of a Bath Settlement housewife, while his co-accused will serve 19 years for his role in the crime. At the Berbice Assizes during a Zoom hearing, Justice Brassington Reynolds imposed the sentence on Abrahim, after telling him, that he (the Judge) would spare himself the trauma of rehashing the evidence, inclusive of the post mortem report, and the suffering and trauma of the victims’ relatives. Abrahim’s  co-accused Madampaul Gocool,  who had ‘thrown in the towel’ during the murder trial last month, had also opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, and had tearfully pleaded with the judge during a separate hearing for leniency. However, Justice Reynolds was not moved by his pleas, and instead advised him to demonstrate change during his 19 years of confinement.

Forty-nine-year-old Anita Baichan was jolted from her sleep on January 2, 2016 by Abrahim who demanded cash and jewellery. After the woman and her son Moshim Khan were able to meet his demands, they were duct-taped, feet, hands and mouth before being chopped about their bodies with a cutlass. Their humble West Coast Berbice house was later set ablaze. Khan managed to escape. His mother was not so fortunate. She perished in the fire. Loumattie Devi Luther, daughter of the deceased, in a victim impact statement, summarised her life which she said she cannot recognise, following the death of her mother. “My mother was murdered senselessly, cruelly … My mother’s death has made my younger brother vulnerable.  We will be forever saddened. .. There is an emptiness within us.  We mourn every day.

The pain is indescribable. Because of your (killers) choices, my brother does not sleep. He still has flashbacks. During the robbery/assault my brother and mother were completely helpless. …. They were powerless to protect themselves. The physical injuries of my brother renders him incapable of work, due to the injuries in his hand.  The incident has resulted in the loss of earning, death, and devastating property loss. We are experiencing hardship in rebuilding our home. … We have lost precious treasures which can never be regained,” she said. State prosecutrix, Abigail Gibbs, noted that Anita Baichan’s cause of death was inhalation of fire fumes and the body was severely charred. In his caution statement, Gocool admitted to providing the necessary tools, such as a crescent and a pliers which were used to remove the grillwork from the home of Baichan.  At the time of committing the offence, the murderers were under the influence of marijuana, as they had confessed to smoking “weed”.
BAD INFLUENCE
Probation and Welfare Officer, Odessa Semple, noted that Gocool, called “Clown”, was born on December 23, 1997, and had lived at Lot 175 Block D, Bath Settlement.  He dropped out of the Woodley Park Secondary School at age 13, and became a functional labourer and fisherman. At age 16, he shared a cordial relationship with Abrahim and commenced involving himself in numerous criminal activities. In a mitigation plea for Abrahim, defence lawyer, Sasha Roberts, said she was placing her client at the mercy of the court and has observed, after listening to the victim impact statement and the probation report, that her client was very troubled.
The other attorney, Ravindra Mohabir, who represented Gocool, reminded the court that his client was only eighteen years when the crime was committed.
“He was easily influenced by Rooplall Abrahim. The deposition of Moshim Khan records Rooplall Abrahim saying ‘ burn the house down’. It was Abrahim who duct-taped the victim. At the time, Rooplall Abrahim was much older.

According to his caution statement Rooplall Abrahim decided to burn the house down because he was vexed because he did not get any money. ‘Me light fire pun one mattress’, he is recorded saying. Gocool’s only intention was to commit burglary. He had no intention of setting the house on fire,” the lawyer submitted.
In handing down the separate sentences, Justice Reynolds told Abrahim, “You are clearly a product of inadequate education and bad company. You seem to be overcome by some force of unnatural nature….. and you can no longer control yourself. You relish in causing pain. Again, I sentence you to life imprisonment, with eligibility after twenty-five years. With respect to Gocool,   the judge said having considered the plea to the lesser count, age at the time of the offence and the influence of his older partner, a man who seemed possessed by the devil, a 19-year sentence was imposed. “You did not have the strength to turn your back. I have considered too, the report of the Probation Officer about your behaviour at prison and the mitigation of the lawyer. I am not particularly moved by your drama….  I have deducted five years for the guilty plea. Another five years for time spent and one year for your good behaviour and remorse. You are sentenced to nineteen (19) years,” Justice Reynolds said.