Guyana: Henry Cousins’ Killers Sentenced to Life, Eligible for Parole After 35 Years

The men convicted of murdering West Coast Berbice cousins Isaiah Henry and Joel Henry have received life sentences, with the possibility of parole after 35 years. This decision was made by Justice Simone Morris in the Berbice High Court.

During the sentencing, Justice Morris highlighted the extreme brutality of the crime, noting that the teenage cousins were unarmed and posed no threat to their attackers. Isaiah, aged 16, and Joel, aged 19, left their homes on September 5, 2020, for the Number Three Backdam but did not return. Their bodies were discovered the following day in the Cotton Tree Backdam.

The evidence presented in court indicated that Vinod Gopaul and Anil Sancharra attacked the cousins with cutlasses and attempted to conceal their bodies afterward. Post-mortem examinations revealed that the injuries inflicted were severe, including damage to the victims’ spines.

Justice Morris expressed that the loss experienced by the Henry family was profound and emphasized the court’s responsibility to impose a sentence that reflected the seriousness of the crime. She also noted the rising trend of violent crimes involving dangerous weapons, asserting that the courts must convey a strong message regarding the consequences of such actions.

Prior to sentencing, the court reviewed probation reports for both defendants. While Gopaul and Sancharra expressed sympathy for the victims’ family, they maintained their innocence throughout the trial. The reports indicated that both men had prior legal issues, including narcotics-related offenses.

Justice Morris sentenced both men to life imprisonment for each murder conviction, with the sentences to run concurrently. They will receive credit for time already served and will be enrolled in literacy and anger management programs while incarcerated. The prosecution’s case relied significantly on the testimony of Akash Singh, who was initially charged with the murders but later became the State’s key witness. Singh alleged that the cousins were killed after being accused of damaging a marijuana farm. Throughout the trial, Gopaul and Sancharra denied Singh’s claims. The State was represented by Prosecutor Marisa Edwards, while Gopaul and Sancharra had legal representation from Chandra Sohan and the Dexter Todd and Associates Law Firm, respectively.

Source: snn.gy