THREE years after pork-knocker, Xavier Boyal, was fatally shot at Puruni Landing, Cuyuni River, his alleged killer, Deion Evans called ‘Rasta Beans’, was, on Friday, sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Last month, Evans appeared before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Suddie High Court for the capital offence of murder. However, he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter which alleged that on November 11, 2018, he unlawfully killed Boyal.

Justice Sewnarine-Beharry, before imposing her sentence on Evans, considered the nature and gravity of the offence as well as the use of a dangerous weapon to commit the crime, which he was not licensed to carry.

Nevertheless, she gave him credit for not wasting the court’s time and confessing to the crime.

The judge, in handing down her decision, sentenced Evans to serve 15 years and instructed the prison authorities to deduct from the sentence the time he had spent on remand.

Evans was represented by attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir, while prosecutor Tiffini Lyken is on record for the state.

According to the police, Boyal, who was a pork- knocker from Waramuri Mission, Moruca River, North West District, was shot and killed on November 11, 2018 at Puruni Landing.

Boyal was reportedly employed by a dredge owner and was working at Rock Creek, Puruni River at the time of his demise.

According to the prosecution’s case, on the day in question, Boyal left Rock Creek, along with one of his co-workers and they headed to Junior’s Disco, also located at Puruni Landing.

While at the disco, the man’s co-worker had an altercation with Evans which resulted in him being punched to his face.

As a result, Boyal intervened and pushed Evans away. Boyal and his friend then left the the disco and were walking along the Puruni Road on the way to their camp when they came under attack.

It is alleged that following the altercation, Evans joined the vehicle of a 56-year-old man and instructed him to drive.

While the man drove , Evans pulled out a handgun from his waist and pointed it towards the vehicle’s windscreen. He then discharged a round in Boyal’s direction.

Evans then exited the vehicle and discharged another round at Boyal before making good his escape. He was later arrested and charged.