Man,46, sentenced to 4 years for killing friend

March 28, 2024 | Guyana Uncut News | Georgetown, Guyana

Forty-six-year-old Vivian Ross of Rose Hall, Corentyne, was on Wednesday sentenced to four years imprisonment for killing his friend, whom he attacked during a drinking spree.

Ross, also known as “Jerry”, had the custodial punishment imposed on him by Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the High Court in Demerara after the reading of presentencing reports.

But Ross is a free man since Justice Jo Ann Barlow ordered that he should receive full credit for his time spent on remand. He has been on remand for the crime since July 20, 2018.

Initially arraigned on a charge for the capital offence of murder in February, Ross opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter as part of a plea bargain with the State.

He thereby admitted that he unlawfully killed 43-year-old Wayne Sundarsingh, also known as ‘Wino’, on July 13, 2018, at Rose Hall, Corentyne.

Ross apologised to the family of the deceased man during a brief statement to the court on Wednesday. He attributed his behavior that day to drinking too much alcohol.In the meantime, Justice Barlow stated during her sentencing remarks that she thought Ross’s apology to the deceased’s family was sincere.

The judge ultimately decided to give Ross a jail sentence and mandated that the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) enroll him in counseling programs designed specifically for violent criminals.When the felon is freed from jail, Justice Barlow advised him to cut back on alcohol use.Ross was represented by Senior Counsel Murseline Bacchus.State Counsel Muntaz Ali presented the case for the prosecution.

Sundarsingh, a painter of Lot 316 Fifth Street, Swamp Section, Rose Hall, succumbed shortly after being discovered with major head injuries and bruises about his body.He was allegedly drinking at Ross’s house on Bulletwood Street in Rose Hall, which is close to his own house.

Relatives discovered him unconscious there.When Ross was arrested by the police, he reportedly told investigators that he dealt the now-dead man a cuff, after which he fell and hit his head.

Sundarsingh died as a result of severe hemorrhaging due to blunt trauma to the head.