A West Coast Demerara (WCD) man who brutally set his wife on fire in 2020 has been sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve 24 years before being eligible for parole.
Gowkaran, 54, had earlier pleaded guilty to the capital offence of murder when he appeared before Justice Simone Morris at the Demerara High Court.
He admitted to killing his wife, 47-year-old Debbie Singh, during a domestic dispute at their home in Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD.
The horrifying incident occurred on April 9, 2020, in the presence of the couple’s then one-year-old twin children.
According to an agreed statement of facts presented by State Prosecutor Muntaz Ali, Singh was doused with a mixture of kerosene and alcohol and deliberately set on fire by her husband during an argument.
As the flames engulfed her, Gowkaran reportedly restrained her to prevent her escape. Despite suffering critical burns, Singh managed to break free and ran outside to seek help from a neighbour.
Meanwhile, Gowkaran locked himself in a room and attempted to hang himself. Police were forced to break down the door, after which they rescued and arrested him.
Singh was later hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she succumbed to her injuries.
A post-mortem examination listed her cause of death as pulmonary thromboembolism due to septic burns, compounded by multiple acute gastric ulcers.
During the sentencing hearing, the presiding judge considered victim impact statements, a probation report, and other relevant documentation before handing down the life sentence.
Gowkaran will be eligible for parole only after serving a minimum of 24 years.
