GDF Coast Guards who robbed and murdered gold dealer get death sentence commuted to life

Sherwyn Hart, Deon Greenidge, and Devon Gordon, who were Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard ranks when they robbed and tossed a gold dealer overboard, have had their death sentence for their murder convictions commuted to life by the Court of Appeal.

In 2013, following a trial before High Court Judge Franklin Holder and a 12-member jury, they were found guilty of the August 20, 2009, murder of Bartica gold miner Dwieve Kant Ramdass. The trial Judge consequently sentenced each of them to suffer death.

Media reports are that on the day in question at Caiman Hole in the Essequibo River, they forced the gold miner into their boat. The trio then relieved Ramdass of $17 million he was carrying for his employer before dumping him overboard and making good their escape.

In their appeal against their convictions and sentences, they had, among other things, contended that they were wrongfully convicted, and that the death penalty, which they had described as unconstitutional, was not appropriate in the circumstances of the case.

In its ruling on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal led by acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards upheld the men’s conviction for the capital offence of murder but commuted each of their death sentences to life imprisonment.

The appellate court held that the punishment of death was harsh. While Greenidge and Gordon must serve 18 years before being eligible for parole, Hart, the mastermind, must serve 25 years.

Greenidge and Hart were represented by Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes in association with Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels. Gordon was represented by Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dionne McCammon appeared on behalf of the State.

Besides the Chancellor, the men’s appeal was also heard by Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory-Barnes and Rishi Persaud.