A 30-year-old barber and father of two, who spent six years and six months on remand for murder was on Thursday sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, deemed already served, by Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court.
Anthony Jhaggroo, called “Sunny” and “Icky”, pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter in the 2016 death of his neighbour, Yugheshwar Shiwchand, also known as “Shah Rukh Khan”.
Justice Singh started with a 15-year sentence but deducted five years for the guilty plea, two years for the reports presented to the court and another two years for remorse, leaving a six-year term.
Since Jhaggroo had already spent six years and six months in custody, he was not required to serve additional prison time.
According to the agreed facts, the fatal incident occurred on July 5, 2016, at Belle West, West Bank Demerara, when Shiwchand entered Jhaggroo’s yard naked and attempted to enter the family home while asking for his mother and sister.
A confrontation developed on the verandah, during which Jhaggroo pushed Shiwchand to the ground and chased him from the yard.
Jhaggroo subsequently visited Shiwchand’s home to complain before returning to his residence.
However, Shiwchand later returned and attempted to go upstairs again. Jhaggroo began punching him in the head.
After Shiwchand fell, Jhaggroo dragged him towards the concrete foundation near the stairs and repeatedly slammed his head against it.
Jhaggroo’s uncle eventually intervened and pulled him away.
Shiwchand was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but died on July 10, five days after the incident.
A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Nehaul Singh determined that death resulted from a subdural haematoma caused by blunt trauma to the head. Multiple blunt-force injuries were also documented.
In a caution statement, Jhaggroo admitted striking Shiwchand.
A probation report described him as a father of two daughters, with no previous convictions. It also noted his positive conduct in prison, where he participated in training and assisted fellow inmates.
Expressing remorse, Jhaggroo said: “I wish I could undo what I did.”
Jhaggroo was arrested in May 2020 in Port Mourant, Berbice, after nearly four years on the run, having escaped from the La Grange Police Station in July 2016 following his initial arrest for Shiwchand’s murder.
