Twenty-four-year-old Collin Jackman, called “Junior,” was on Wednesday sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, less time served, for the 2021 murder of 59-year-old amputee Keith Richard Hohenkirk at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.
Jackman had pleaded guilty last month before Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara.
He was represented by attorney-at-law Madan Kissoon, while the State was represented by attorneys Geneva Wills, State Counsel Christopher Belfield, and State Counsel Simran Gajraj.
According to the facts, Jackman and Hohenkirk, who lived in the same neighbourhood and were known to each other, became the targets of a deadly robbery plot.
About a week before the killing, Jackman and others conspired to drug and rob Hohenkirk using a psychotropic substance known as “molly.”
On October 23, 2021, they mixed the drug with Banko wine and carried it to Hohenkirk’s home.
Later that night, the group entered the house, tied up Hohenkirk, gagged him with a piece of sheet and scotch tape, and Jackman struck him several times to the face and head.
They ransacked the house and shop, stealing snacks, drinks, and money.
Jackman and an accomplice later returned to retrieve the wine bottle and found Hohenkirk motionless and cold, but still went on to rob the shop a second time.
On the morning of October 24, 2021, police discovered Hohenkirk lying on his back with his hands and mouth bound, and the room in disarray. He was pronounced dead at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.
Jackman was arrested on October 26, 2021, and in a caution statement admitted to participating in the plan to drug and rob Hohenkirk and to hitting him during the attack.
A post-mortem examination conducted by pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh revealed blunt trauma to the head and compression injuries to the neck.
The cause of death was given as subdural haematoma due to blunt trauma to the neck.
