Collin Allen, who was handed a 100 years jail sentence for the murder of Montrose, East Coast Demerara granny Danrasie Ganesh, has mounted a challenge at the Court of Appeal where he is arguing that the prison term imposed on him is “excessive.” On February 26, 2019, Allen, also known as ‘Bonus’ was found guilty of the August 01, 2015 murder of Ganesh, 77. He was sentenced to 100 years imprisonment by trial judge Navindra Singh who said he believes that a man like Allen should never see daylight again.
In documents filed at the Court of Appeal, Allen, 26, is also arguing that he had an unfair trial. State Prosecutors Tuanna Harding, Abigail Gibbs, and Teriq Mohamed, had submitted that Ganesh, called, ‘Carmen’ lived alone at Lot 121 Montrose, East Coast Demerara and on the day in question she was visited by an unwanted guest, Allen, who was unknown to her.
The prosecutors told the jury that Allen entered the woman’s house as though he knew her and murdered her. He later made good his escape but was captured three weeks later. According to a caution statement given by Allen to detectives, he was paid $700,000 to kill the elderly woman and steal documents pertaining to her property.
During the trial, CCTV footage from Ganesh’s home was tendered into evidence. In the footage, a man was seen in the woman’s house hitting her on the head with a tyre wrench, kicking, and stomping her. “They say a picture is worth a thousand words,” Justice Singh had told Allen.
In arriving at a sentence for Allen, Justice Singh commenced at a base of 60 years. The sentence increased as Justice Singh pointed to the overwhelming aggravating factors. To the 60 years, the judge added 10 years for premeditation; another 10 years for excessive brutality; a further 10 years was added since, according to Justice Singh, it was a murder for pay; and another 10 years given the woman’s age and the fact that she could have barely walked properly.
