SHAWN Williams, a 26-year-old fisherman, received a 13-year prison sentence with credit for time served for the offence of wounding with intent.
It has been nine years since he committed the brutal act of stabbing a man, Fizul Mohamed, at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).
Williams, residing in Parika, was initially facing an attempted murder charge but was ultimately convicted of the lesser offence by a unanimous jury verdict at the Demerara High Court in mid-March.
The incident, according to the prosecution, occurred on January 31, 2015. Mohamed was imbibing at a shop in Parika facade when Williams and another individual, John, got into a heated argument over gambling.
John and Mohamed are friends. The confrontation escalated when Williams pulled out a knife and threatened John.
As Mohamed stepped in to question Williams’s aggressive behaviour, Williams stabbed him in the abdomen and then fled on a bicycle.
Mohamed, who was severely injured, was swiftly transported to the Leonora Cottage Hospital and was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. He stayed there for 10 days due to the seriousness of his injuries.
Following the incident, Mohamed was unable to work for nearly a year, making his recovery journey lengthy. Subsequently, Williams was taken into custody.
Post-verdict, the presiding Judge, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, handed down the custodial sentence and directed the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) to provide Williams with anger-management and behaviour-modification courses, along with vocational training to aid his rehabilitation.
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry emphasised the gravity and common occurrence of the crime, noting that Williams fled the scene after committing the act. She pointed out that Williams, being of mature age at the time of the attack, should have been fully aware of the consequences of his actions. She also highlighted the severe injuries suffered by the victim.
Representing Williams, attorney-at-law Kezia Williams conveyed her client’s remorse for his actions. She appealed to the judge to show as much leniency as possible in determining his sentence. When offered the opportunity to speak, the convicted man pleaded with the judge, saying, “Please be lenient with me. I’m sorry. I know what I did was wrong.”
On the other hand, State Counsel Caressa Henry called for an appropriate punishment, stressing aggravating factors such as the use of a dangerous weapon.
The prosecutor pointed out that Mohamed’s life was at serious risk and that even after undergoing surgery, he was left bedridden and unable to support his family. She noted that after stabbing Mohamed, Williams fled the scene, offering no assistance to the injured man.
