A farmer who admitted to killing his cousin and then burying him in a shallow grave was this morning sentenced to 12 years in prison by High Court judge Navindra Singh.
Though initially indicted for murder, 30-year-old Levi Stephens called ‘Chappel’ opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
He confessed that, on March 16, 2017 at Tiger Plate, Central Rupununi, he unlawfully killed Arnold Gordon, his cousin.
According to reports, the body of Gordon, 24, a labourer of Kumu Village, Central Rupununi, was found in a shallow grave in a clump of bushes about 20 feet from Stevens’ camp.
From all indications, Gordon was clubbed and shot with an arrow and bow. Stevens’ lawyer Mark Conway told the court that his client was often provoked by the now dead man.
In his address to the judge, Stevens explained that he lost his temper. In return, Justice Singh warned Stevens that he cannot lose his temper and commit such acts.
The judge ordered that he undergo anger management classes while incarcerated. Justice Singh further ordered the prison authorities to deduct the time Stevens spent in pre-trial custody from the sentence.
Prosecutors Teriq Mohamed and Sarah Martin appeared on behalf of the State. This matter was heard at the High Court in Georgetown.
