JOSHUA Preme, an Albion, Corentyne carpenter, was given an eight-year prison sentence on Tuesday afternoon for chopping a man whom he said had attacked him first.

A jury found the 26-year-old man guilty of felonious wounding earlier this month after he was tried before Berbice High Court Judge Jo Ann Barlow. The jury, by a vote of 11 to 1, convicted him. The victim, Jagdeo Ganesh, 41, was chopped about his body on August 9, 2021.

Sasha Roberts, Preme’s attorney, stated during a plea of mitigation during the sentencing hearing on Tuesday that her client did not intend to do the crime.

While pleading with the Judge to temper justice with mercy, Roberts told the court that her client is an ideal candidate for rehabilitation because of his young age, and that there is no sign that he has a violent tendency.

Preme said, “Have mercy on me,” when the trial Judge asked if he had anything to say.

After being chopped in the head, arms, and other parts of his body, Ganesh stated in a victim impact statement that he is unable to use two of his fingers.

He said too that the event continues to give him nightmares.

Justice Barlow emphasised in her Tuesday sentencing remarks that Preme’s actions on the relevant day demonstrated a disregard for human life. The High Court Judge asserted that there is a growing trend in the use of deadly weapons in violent crimes. In view of this, she stated that severe penalties need to be applied in order to discourage future offenders.

According to her, because of his injuries, Ganesh was left unable to care for himself in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

She said that the victim still fears for his life and continues to be affected by excruciating pain.
The judge noted that despite being convicted by a jury of his peers, Preme has not expressed remorse and “still believes he had to do what he did.”

Judge Barlow not only sentenced Preme to eight years in prison, but also mandated that the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) provide him with specialised skills training so that, following his release from prison, he will be able make a positive contribution to society.

Prior to this conviction, Preme had an unblemished criminal record.

Preme and Ganesh hailed from the same village and their respective residences were a street apart.

On August 9, 2021, Preme ran out of his yard, shoved Ganesh from his bicycle, and began hacking him with a cutlass as he was about to cut branches to make brooms.

When Preme was apprehended by the police, he admitted to the crime and claimed that he was the only one who had done the chopping, even though another person had intervened and joined in.

State Counsel Muntaz Ali presented the case for the prosecution.