George Moses of Lamaha Street, Newtown, Kitty, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of his neighbor, Anthony Williams, following a violent confrontation in their shared residence. The sentence was handed down at the Demerara High Court by Judge Gino Persaud, who took into account the nature of the attack and its profound impact on the victim’s family.
Moses and Williams were long-time neighbors living in separate flats within a two-story apartment. Their ongoing conflict had frequently escalated into physical altercations. On March 30, at around 6:30 PM, Police Corporal Nelson observed the two men arguing outside. During the confrontation, Moses attacked Williams with a knife, threatening, “I’m going to kill you and go lie down for you.” He delivered multiple stabs to the victim before disposing of the weapon in a nearby canal. Williams was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Moses was apprehended at the scene, cautioned, and subsequently charged with murder. Due to the severity of the offence, bail was denied.
During the sentencing, emotional statements were presented by Williams’ children and partner. Kiara Williams, the eldest daughter, expressed that her father’s death had placed significant responsibilities on her as she now helps care for her younger siblings. She called for the offender to face the maximum penalty allowed by law. Williams’ son, Shemaroy, and partner, Dahlia Gouveia, also shared the profound emotional and financial struggles they faced in the absence of their loved one, who had been the family’s sole provider.
Judge Persaud highlighted several aggravating factors during sentencing, including that the deceased was unarmed and vulnerable at the time of the attack. The court noted Moses’s persistent course of violence, as he chased Williams and continued to stab him, even as Williams attempted to flee. The killing occurred in front of the victim’s children, adding to its severity. The lack of genuine remorse displayed by Moses was also noted, alongside the fact that the violent confrontation could have been avoided.
Initially, the Judge considered a 30-year sentence but adjusted it based on various factors: three years were added for being a danger to society, then three years were deducted due to an insincere apology, and an additional 10-year reduction was granted for the early guilty plea. This resulted in Moses receiving a final sentence of 20 years, with time already spent on remand counted, leaving him with 17 years and six months left to serve in prison.
The Judge emphasized that the sentence reflects the gravity of Moses’ actions and the lasting impact on Williams’ family, particularly on his children, who are now without their father.
