A JUDGE has sentenced convicted killers Akeem Morris and Roy Sandiford to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal murder of 45-year-old vendor, Troy Ramalho.
On January 31, 2025, a 12-member mixed jury unanimously found Morris, 26, and Sandiford, a 37-year-old father of one, guilty of Ramalho’s murder. Ramalho, who sold cheese and sausages at Bourda Market, was senselessly killed during a robbery in 2018.

After being arraigned before the judge, the duo pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that they murdered Troy Ramalho on August 15, 2018, during the course or furtherance of a robbery. Delivering the sentence on Wednesday, Justice Navindra Singh of the Demerara High Court emphasised the gravity of the crime and the need to address its prevalence.
In his sentencing remarks, Justice Singh emphasised the importance of sentencing as both a deterrent and a rehabilitative tool, as outlined in Recommendation #30 of the Needham’s Point Declaration.

According to him, this recommendation urges courts to impose sentences that serve either purpose, depending on the specifics of each case. In this instance, after reviewing the evidence, the judge concluded that the sentence in this case must prioritise deterrence rather than rehabilitation.

The judge explained that the nature and severity of the crime necessitated a strong punitive response to discourage similar offences in the future.

“Audacious robberies, such as the one in this case—boldly committed in a crowded night market—exhibit a wanton disregard for human life and a presumptuous indifference to the law. Killing an unarmed market vendor and removing his jewellery from his dead body…this kind of crime has become too common in our society. Any person involved in the execution of such a crime, carried out in this manner, is incapable of rehabilitation,” Justice Singh emphasised.

He argued that a sentence exceeding the men’s remaining lifespan would be appropriate but also acknowledged that higher courts in the region often overturn such rulings. Consequently, Justice Singh sentenced each of the men to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

In ruling that they should never be considered for parole, the court took into account that they murdered Ramalho during a violent felony, using a gun with unprovoked brutality—shooting an unarmed man who posed no threat to them during the crime.

The judge made it clear that even “mildly favourable” probation and prison conduct reports would not persuade the court to impose a lesser sentence.
Justice Singh said: “[The reports] cannot serve as mitigation and cannot certainly serve as an indication that the violent propensity of the individuals has been curbed. The convicted persons have demonstrated absolutely no remorse for the killing.”

The judge reasoned that for remorse to be expressed, the convicts must first acknowledge that they committed the act and explain why they did so before they can genuinely express remorse.
State Prosecutor, attorney-at-law Christopher Belfield, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, emphasising that “the prevalence of unlawful killings in our society is at an all-time high.”

He argued that the punishment should be severe enough to deter both the offenders and potential criminals. Recounting the facts, the prosecutor stated that Sandiford was the one who shot Ramalho, while Morris stole the victim’s jewellery after he had been shot.

He argued that Morris raised an alibi defence, despite being positively identified by an eyewitness and captured on Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage committing the crime.
Highlighting Sandiford’s complete disregard for the court, Belfield pointed out that Sandiford’s alibi witnesses had clearly lied during their testimony.
“The state strongly frowns upon fabricated evidence being produced in a court of law and denounces such blatant attempt and disrespect,” Belfield said.

Rehabilitation, according to Belfield, requires convicts to take responsibility for their actions, yet they have gone to great lengths to avoid doing so. He stressed that Sandiford and Morris were found guilty after a lengthy trial, which retraumatised the victim’s family.
Ramalho’s wife, Precious, and his stepdaughter described him as loving, cheerful, and dependable.

“I often dream about him. Whenever I dream about him, it feels extremely real. Troy may be buried in the cemetery, but his spirit still lives on,” Precious said in a victim impact statement, which was read aloud by the prosecutor.

Marcy, Troy’s 24-year-old stepdaughter, shared: “He was always uplifting, encouraging, and dependable. He was a great father figure, even though he wasn’t my biological father. I’ve lost both my biological father and my stepfather—it’s like losing my father twice.”

Morris was represented by attorney Kiswana Jefford, while Dexter Todd and Excellence Dazzell served as Sandiford’s defence counsel during the trial. However, attorney Candaice Adams appeared for Sandiford at his sentencing hearing.

Both Jefford and Adams urged the judge to temper justice with mercy, emphasising that their clients are good candidates for rehabilitation. They emphasised that their clients are products of difficult upbringings and should be given a chance to reintegrate into society.

Meanwhile, when given the opportunity to address the court, Sandiford said, “I am innocent of this crime. I have no knowledge of it, and I wish the Guyana Police Force could do a proper investigation. But I am sorry for the loss of Troy Ramalho.”

Similarly, Morris stated, “I am sorry to the family of Troy Ramalho, but I was never involved in this incident.”

BACKGROUND
The convicted men were part of a three-man gang that ambushed Ramalho on August 15, 2018, near Bourda Market in Georgetown. Prosecutors Muntaz Ali and Christopher Belfield argued that the crime occurred around 11:00 p.m., when Ramalho, a well-known vendor selling cheese and eggs in front of “Rambarran’s” on Robb Street, Georgetown, resisted the robbery attempt.

The assailants, armed with weapons, fatally shot the vendor during the confrontation, before escaping in a waiting car. Despite efforts by bystanders to assist, Ramalho succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Ramalho sustained a single gunshot wound, and his cause of death was determined to be shock and haemorrhage.

In connection with the case, Nya John, initially charged with Ramalho’s murder, was acquitted after a jury returned a unanimous not-guilty verdict.

Meanwhile, George Paton, an accomplice of the convicts, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2022 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, minus time served by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall. Paton, who was the driver of the getaway car, received a reduced sentence following his guilty plea.