CoA Upholds 23-Year Sentence for Manslaughter

December 24 2024- The Court of Appeal of Guyana has upheld the 23-year prison sentence of Daveanand
Dhandharie, convicted of manslaughter for the 2016 killing of Omesh Seelall, aged 27.

Dhandharie, a resident of Canje, Region Six, had appealed his conviction and sentence.

But, on Friday last, the appellate panel, comprising Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice
Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices Dawn Gregory-Barnes and Rishi Persaud, unanimously
rejected all grounds for appeal.

The incident occurred on April 16, 2016, following a wedding celebration in Canje, Region Six,
when an argument broke out between Dhandharie, then 18, and Seelall.

Witnesses testified that Seelall insulted Dhandharie, escalating the altercation. Dhandharie
claimed he acted in self-defence after Seelall threatened him with a knife.

Dead: Omesh Seelall

In response, Dhandharie struck Seelall with a piece of wood, killing him.

Dhandharie fled the scene but was arrested on April 25, 2016. During his arrest, he provided a
written statement. At trial, he was convicted of manslaughter in 2018.

Dhandharie appealed, arguing that his self-defence claim was inadequately presented and the
trial judge’s summing up was biased in favour of the prosecution. He also claimed the jury was
improperly instructed on inconsistencies and contradictions in the evidence.

The prosecution, represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Teshana James-Lake,
opposed the appeal, asserting that the trial judge had properly addressed these concerns.

Chancellor Cummings-Edwards dismissed the appeal, stating that Dhandharie’s response to the
threat was disproportionate, and emphasising the importance of proportionality in self-
defence.

The appellate court further ruled that the trial judge provided ample directions to the jury on
the issue of self-defence.

The convict’s claim that his sentence was excessive was rejected by the court.

The Court of Appeal upheld the 23-year sentence, stating that it was fitting and adequately
reflected the gravity of the crime, while also serving as a deterrent to violence.

Dhandharie, who was represented by attorney Stacy Goodings, will continue to serve his
sentence.