Boy chopped father 13 times:

"Story taken from our COURT section."

A 19-YEAR-OLD boy who chopped his father to death four years ago yesterday pleaded guilty in the San Fernando High Court to the charge of murder. A guilty plea is not accepted by the courts for the capital offence of murder , but yesterday Justice Herbert Volney presiding in the First Assize Court allowed Ramesh Sieunarine to enter a plea of guilty.

The plea was accepted on the basis that at the time, Sieunarine, who is from Buenos Ayres, Erin, was 15 years old.

In law, a minor charged with murder cannot be given the death sentence if he or she is found guilty. Sieunarine pleaded guilty before Volney to chopping his father —Raymond — at their home. The killing took place on August 15, 2002, in which the father received 13 chop wounds.

When the case was called yesterday, Sieunarine stood in the dock. His attorney — Chateram Sinanan - told Volney that the law provides for a particular course of sentencing because his client was 15 years old at the time of the offence.

If the accused Sieunarine had opted for trial, the court was bound by law to sentence him to the Court’s Pleasure. A judge would then hear evidence and hand down an appropriate sentence — normally a term of imprisonment.

After the sentence is served, the accused’s case would again be reviewed. Attorney Sinanan, instructed by Anuusha Panday, told Volney that the court should have the benefit of a Probation Officer’s report before sentence is passed on the accused Sieunarine. The attorney also asked for a report from the prison authorities. After the accused youth said he was guilty, Volney heard the evidence. It was outlined by Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Joan Honore Paul.

Volney said yesterday after the guilty plea that the Sieunarine would have to be kept at the court’s pleasure for a certain period of time, to represent the punishment handed down by the court.

However, the judge said the court can also order the accused to be considered for release when the authorities are satisfied that he has been rehabilitated.

The judge said he will not consider the tariff punishment (life imprisonment) until the Probation officer’s report is considered.

State Prosecutor Honore-Paul told the court that Sieunarine lived with his parents and two brothers. His father — Raymond — had asked him and his brother — Heraram, whether they were smoking cigarettes while standing on the road.

Honore-Paul said that Raymond asked his wife for a cutlass but the mother refused. Raymond got the cutlass, Volney heard, and chased Sieunarine and his brother out of the house.

The next day Heraram returned to their home but Sieunarine did not. later that day, Honore-Paul said, Raymond went to the home of Sieunarine’s friend and brought the accused back home.

The judge will pass sentence on June 27.