Several days after denying responsibility for the 2012 stabbing, which claimed the life of Rayaad Khan, accused; Christopher DaSilva of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, earlier today, pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court.
After disclosing his intentions through his attorney, Maxwell McKay, Justice Singh who described the incident as unfortunate noted that the Court cannot allow the crime to go unpunished.
As such, the jury foreman was directed to return a guilty verdict.
The accused was found guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
Justice Singh started the sentence at 11 years but took off five years for time spent incarcerated, which means that the perpetrator will serve a six-year prison term.
After breaking down in the courtroom, DaSilva emerged a little calmer on the corridors.
Khan, a then promising 17-year-old student, died from shock and hemorrhage due to a single stab wound to the chest on June 28, 2012.
His father, Azeem Khan noted that while the sentence was small, he did feel sorry for DaSilva.
He, however, explained that today’s ruling does not bring closure for him.
Da Silva was 18 years old at the time the stabbing incident occurred.
According to the police evidence, the stabbing occurred at about 20:00h on June 28, 2012 at 17th Avenue, Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.
DaSilva reportedly indicated that Khan, the deceased, had slapped him on the day in question. As such, DaSilva said that he picked up a bottle and stabbed him once to the chest. He then indicated that he threw the bottle away and fled the scene.
What had reportedly sparked the incident was an argument the two young men had reportedly over the attention DaSilva’s girlfriend was showing Khan.
The State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Siand Dhurjon and Tuanna Hardy.
