Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 28, 2015 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
Seventy- three year old, Donald Mapp, called Chetty, was yesterday sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of his friend, Winsel Roger Edwards.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire at the High Court in Georgetown.
The Judge had initially intended a sentence of 25 years in prison but deducted five years off the sentence; two for the time he spent in prison pending trial and three years because of his poor health.
Mapp, of Tucville, Georgetown, mortally injured his friend in a brawl two years ago. He was convicted of the crime after a twelve-member mixed jury returned a guilty verdict for the crime, last month.
Mapp stabbed Winsel Roger Edwards, during a drunken brawl at Stretchy’s vulcanizing shop in Tucville on February 15, 2013. The incident is said to have stemmed from a ‘name calling’ incident.
The two men were reportedly consuming alcohol when they began calling each other names. The teasing intensified and Mapp became highly annoyed. He left the shop but returned some time later with a knife.
Thirty-three-year-old Edwards, called ‘Buck’ or ‘Roger’ of 320 Self Help Square, East Ruimveldt, was stabbed once in the vicinity of his heart. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The elderly man had maintained his innocence throughout the trial. In his defence, Mapp told the court that he could not recall what went on between himself and the victim on the day of the incident.
“Myself and Roger were friends. I had no reason for wanting to kill him,” Mapp had told the court.
However, in his evidence, Clairmont Greenidge, the proprietor of the vulcanizing shop recalled that ‘Chetty,’ was a regular ‘limer’ at the shop. He said that the elderly man would often come to the shop to hang out and watch television.
Greenidge said that on the day of the incident, the men were tantalizing each other, during which Edwards called Mapp an “old anti-man”. Mapp retorted by calling him (Edwards) a “faggot.”
He recalled that Mapp left some time during the row, but he returned.
Greenidge said that the elderly man attacked his younger opponent from behind. Both men were said to have toppled to the ground. Greenidge said that Edwards tried to get up, but he fell back and Mapp stabbed him.
Yesterday a probation report which was requested by Mapp’s Attorney, Debra Kumar, was read aloud to the court before the sentence was handed down. The Judge told Mapp that he will be eligible for parole but that will be after he serves seven years in jail.
Listen to the man that is throwing Guyanese bright future away
Mar 19, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – The Dennis DeoRoop-trained horse, Stolen Money, dominated the field to claim victory in the feature event at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot East Berbice on...Kaieteur News – The government has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development spree. It has initiated major... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – In 2024, a series of general elections in Latin American countries, including... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]