After evading authorities for over 16 years, 45-year-old Michael O’lando Corrica has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for the 2007 murder of Bartica gold miner Oswald Joris, also known as “Buns.”
The sentence was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Essequibo.
Corrica, formerly of Fourth Avenue, Bartica, pleaded guilty to murder. His case was prosecuted by State Counsel Caressa Henry, while Latchmi Dindayal appeared for the defence.
The killing happened on February 18, 2007, in Arimu, Region Seven, where Corrica operated a shop and the victim, Joris, worked as a gold miner.
According to the prosecution’s case, on the day of the incident, Joris’ daughter was alerted by someone that her father had been seriously injured.
When she arrived at the scene, she discovered him lying in a pool of blood, bearing multiple chop wounds across his body.
However, media reports state that an argument broke out between the two men over a woman, both of whom were known to each other.
The confrontation escalated, ending with Corrica brutally chopping Joris to death.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Joris died from shock and hemorrhage caused by 10 incised wounds.
Corrica later admitted to committing the act in a caution statement to police investigators. He also informed investigators that he had no prior issues with Joris.
Following the crime, Corrica fled Guyana and managed to remain at large for more than a decade and a half.
He was eventually apprehended in French Guiana, deported to Guyana, and arrested upon arrival on local shores. He was formally charged in June 2023.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Singh took into account several factors, including Corrica’s guilty plea and the prolonged period he spent evading justice.
The judge directed that the time Corrica spent in pre-trial custody be deducted from the overall sentence.
