Guyana Times Reports : Afzal Deendial, who admitted to fatally stabbing his friend during a cricket match in 2022, was freed on Monday after the Demerara High Court ruled that the three-year sentence imposed had already been served while he was on remand.
The sentence had been handed down by acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh. At an earlier hearing on February 10, 2026, Deendial pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the State accepted the reduced charge. Prosecutor Christopher Belfield outlined the facts of the case, and the court ordered preparation of a probation report and a victim impact statement ahead of sentencing.
Court records showed that the incident occurred on August 12, 2022, at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) ground on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. Deendial and the deceased, Kareem Kayum, 25, were competing in a cricket match on opposing teams. The men were known to each other as close friends.
The court heard that what began as “name-calling” during the game escalated into a heated argument, with Deendial continuing remarks even after moving into the batting cage. The confrontation then turned physical. During the altercation, Deendial armed himself with a knife and stabbed Kayum once in the region of the heart, after which Kayum collapsed at the scene. He was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead.
After his arrest, Deendial reportedly admitted to the killing during investigations. At the time, he was a 21-year-old University of Guyana (UG) student residing at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
The court also heard that Kayum was preparing to be married on August 21, 2022, nine days after his death, and that the killing left his family dealing with emotional and psychological trauma.
On Monday, state prosecutor Christopher Belfield emphasised the seriousness of the offence, including the use of a knife and claims that Deendial armed himself before the confrontation. The State also argued that remarks made by the accused contributed to the escalation.
In his ruling, Justice Singh said the circumstances were not one-sided, noting that both men were young and friends and that the fatal encounter arose during a heated exchange. The judge referenced evidence suggesting Kayum had been verbally aggressive and escalated the confrontation, and reports that Kayum struck Deendial on the back of the head during the altercation. The defence maintained that the blow left Deendial fearful and disoriented, prompting a response he believed was self-defence.
Justice Singh indicated the court could not assign full responsibility to a single party based on the circumstances, and he declined to give significant weight to several aggravating factors raised by the prosecution.
The court also considered Deendial’s conduct while in custody. Defence counsel Latchmie Rahamat told the court that Deendial had taken steps toward rehabilitation, including enrolling in educational programmes, attempting to continue university studies online, and participating in essay competitions where he performed well. She described the incident as deeply shocking to both families and said Deendial and his family were remorseful, stressing he did not intend to kill Kayum.
Rahamat further told the court that Deendial’s family had offered $1 million to assist the deceased’s young child, noting it was initially withheld out of concern it could be viewed as influencing justice.
In his address, Deendial expressed remorse, saying: “I am truly sorry. My actions were not intended to kill him. I acted based on how I was feeling in the moment,” and asked for leniency.
Justice Singh set a starting point of 18 years’ imprisonment, citing the seriousness of the offence and use of a knife. In reductions, the court deducted six years for Deendial’s early guilty plea to manslaughter. A further four years were removed based on favourable probation and social reports, which spoke to his background and rehabilitation potential, and an additional two years were deducted for his conduct and youthfulness at the time of the offence. This left a final sentence of three years.
The court credited time Deendial spent on remand since 2022, resulting in him having already completed his sentence. He was therefore freed, and Justice Singh encouraged him to begin a fresh start.
