A former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank who was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for murdering an 8-month-old boy is challenging his sentence and conviction at the Court of Appeal.
Following a trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon in the High Court, Nigel Dodson was found guilty of the January 23, 2017, murder of Romain Seth, which occurred during a fire at a house located at 906 Fourth Field, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
He becomes eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years.
Reports are that Dodson lived in proximity to the toddler, and on January 21, he went to that home– to the child’s grandmother, Michelle Menezes, claiming that he had placed a firearm in a tree in her backyard, and he was not finding it.
As a result, he is alleged to have threatened the family to set the place on fire and kill everyone in it. Two days later, the home was set ablaze, and the toddler perished as a result.
Additionally, an eyewitness had reportedly seen Dodson exiting the premises via a fence after the fire was set.
Following the sentencing, Dodson maintained that he was innocent and does not know why he is still in jail.
As a result, he has filed a Notice of Appeal with prison authorities. During his trial, he was represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson.