Life sentence for Berbice farmer who killed employee over missing goats.

A Number 55 Village, Corentyne, Berbice cattle farmer, who has admitted to killing his employee over missing goats, was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment

Fifty-year-old Bharrat Ramsaywack; his son, who cannot be named because he was charged in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act; and their employee, Mohanlall Sewsankar were charged in connection with the October 2017 murder of Mahendra Ghanie.

Dead-Mahendra Ghanie

While Ramsaywack was charged with the capital offence of murder, the other two were charged with accessory after the fact. They were on trial for their respective charges before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall and a jury at the Berbice High Court.

But during his trial, Ramsaywack upon receiving advice from his lawyer Latchmie Rahamat, opted to plead guilty.

Accordingly, the trial Judge directed the jurors to return a formal guilty verdict in favour of Ramsaywack.

Ramsaywack, who was imprisoned for life, is not eligible for parole until after serving a minimum of 25 years.

Meanwhile, Justice Morris-Ramlall upheld no-case submissions made on behalf of Sewsankar and Ramsaywack’s son’s behalf.  As such, she directed the jury to return not-guilty verdicts in their favour; and accordingly, they were discharged and freed.

The burnt remains of Ghanie, also known as ‘Sanjay,’ 21, of Lot 196 Bloomfield Village, Corentyne, Berbice were found in a shallow grave at Number 55 Village, Corentyne Berbice on October 6, 2017. He was last seen alive on October 2, 2017.

According to reports, the young man was struck in the head, rendering him unconscious. His body was then dragged to the back of his employer’s home which is located near a cemetery.

His body was then thrown into a shallow grave and set on fire.