“I threatened to kill him because I wanted money to buy cigarettes and he did not give me the money,” were the words of an unemployed 25-year-old man who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for threatening to kill his father.
Pooran Deonarine Jr., of 63 Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was slapped with two charges.
The first charge stated that on July 5, 2019, at 63 Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, he made use of threatening language towards his father Pooran Deonarine.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he damaged six window panes valued at $20,000, which were the property of his father.
Deonarine Jr., who laughed throughout the court proceeding, pleaded guilty with explanation to both charges after they were read to him.
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell stated that on the day in question, the victim was at home when Deonarine Jr. showed up and demanded $1,000 from his father to buy cigarettes. The court heard the victim refused to give his son the money and Deonarine Jr. became annoyed and threatened to kill his father. The elderly man being fearful for his life and locked himself inside his home. However, the defendant picked up several stones from the yard and threw them through the window of his father’s home, causing damage to window panes.
The matter was then reported and Deonarine Jr. was arrested and charged with the offences. Deonarine Jr., in his explanation to the court, said, “I am unemployed and yes I threatened to kill him because I wanted the money to buy cigarette. The only reason I pelt stones through the window was to get his attention.”
The Prosecutor asked the court to take into consideration that fact that the defendant threatened to kill his father and was laughing throughout the court proceeding. She also highlighted the fact that the charge is a serious one.
Hence, the Magistrate sentenced the young man to six months for the threatening language and fined him $20,000 or in default one-month imprisonment for the damage to property.
