A 25-year-old Helena No 2 Mahaica, East Coast Demerara resident was, on Wednesday, sentenced to serve a minimum of eight years in prison for the 2014 murder of businesswoman Bibi Shaniza Khan-Bhola.

Though now an adult, because he was charged as a juvenile in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, the man’s identity was protected.

He was sentenced by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Suddie High Court, Region Two.

Last month, the defendant pleaded guilty to the capital offence and admitted that, between February 26 and 27, 2014, he murdered the woman during a robbery.

He was represented by attorney-at-law, Latchmi Dindyal, while the State was represented by prosecutor, Tiffany Lyken.

Dindyal, in his plea of mitigation, said that his client was a juvenile at the time of the act. He added that his client could spend fewer days in prison if he obeys the court orders.

Justice Barlow relied on the sentencing guidelines set out in the Juvenile Justice Act and noted that the convict was still a “child” when he carried out the brutal crime.

Upon considering the court recording of guilt, the probation and prison reports, victim impact statements and the plea mitigation, the defendant was sentenced to a minimum period of eight years with time spent on remand to be deducted by the prison authorities.

The judge further ordered that the offender be exposed to behaviour modification programmes and counselling sessions commencing no later than January 2023.
It was also ordered that Guyana Prison Service shall also provide academic studies tailored to the offender’s needs and ability.

He will also be exposed to courses in carpentry and masonry and his performance would be recorded.

The offender will also be required to undergo a half-yearly assessment by a probation officer in the programmes
Throughout his sentence, he will have to appear before the judge for periodic reviews. The review period shall be every two years, commencing in the October sitting of the Essequibo Assizes 2024.

While the judge delivered her sentencing remarks, the offender showed signs of remorse. He will have to spend Christmas in prison for killing the 34-year-old mother of two during a robbery at her Rock Creek, Cuyuni River shop in 2014.

On the day before she was found dead, she reportedly had a heated argument with two men over a pump she had given them for mining.

Her body had three stab wounds. The horrific discovery was made around 10:00 hrs on February 27, 2014, after a young man visited the shop and found it locked.

The offender was named as the prime suspect, since he was employed by the now-dead woman and also lived with her. He fled the jurisdiction to Suriname after the murder.

However, in December 31, 2018, he was arrested by police at a Berbice location after he had returned to Guyana.