A man with a history of substance-induced psychotic disorder, was on Wednesday, handed a 20-year jail sentence for the brutal murder of his reputed wife.
Durn Hunt, called “Rasta”, 41, formerly of Crane Street, Queenstown, Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), had in May, pleaded guilty to the capital offence of murder in the death of Itashia Frank, 38, whom he had stabbed and submerged in a trench on October 15, 2018.
At Hunt’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday, State prosecutor Muntaz Ali described the woman’s killing as “brutal and blatant”, noting that she was slayed in broad daylight.
He said the man’s actions were reprehensible. While alluding to the serious nature of the offence, Ali pointed out that domestic violence, particularly against women, is a blight on society.
Attorney-at-Law Surihya Sabsook told the court that notwithstanding her client’s mental illness, he is a good candidate for rehabilitation.
“We ask for leniency and mercy to be shown to Durn Hunt who has accepted responsibility for his actions. He is hoping one day to become a productive member of society,” said Sabsook.
Meanwhile, during his address to the court, Hunt told the victim’s family that he was “very sorry” for what he had done. Seemingly blaming his mental illness for the killing, the convict said, “I wasn’t taking my treatment and I start smoking weed…”
In recounting the gruesome manner in which the woman was killed, Berbice High Court Judge, Simone Morris-Ramlall, said that Hunt attacked his partner in broad daylight with a knife, attacking her in such a manner that her carotid arteries were severed.
Still not satisfied, the Judge said he then held the woman’s head down in the trench until she became lifeless. In light of this, the Judge noted that the woman’s murder was a “premeditated plan” and that Hunt’s conduct towards his partner was cruel and callous and showed no regard for her life.
Additionally, the Judge made it clear that the nature of Hunt’s mental illness is no excuse to commit murder. Having considered the aggravating and mitigating factors, the serious nature of the crime, and the prevalence of domestic violence-related murders, the Judge held that imprisonment for 20 years is fitting for Hunt’s criminal conduct.
The murderer was given credit for the time he spent on remand awaiting trial.
He was previously convicted of trafficking in narcotics.
Frank, a mother of two, was stabbed several times by Hunt and left to die in a muddy trench at Crane Street, Queenstown, Corriverton. Based on reports, the woman had recently moved in with Hunt at his Corriverton home, after they had been seeing each other for only three weeks.
At about 08:00h on Sunday, October 15, 2018, the now dead woman had headed home from work, but shortly after, she visited a nearby shop. Moments later, the woman was seen running up the street with her partner in hot pursuit. He eventually caught up with her.
The woman tried to fight him off, but her throat was slit in the process. The woman fell into a nearby trench and was further stabbed four times to her neck.
Hunt held her down in the trench until she stopped moving.
