BIG Smith News Watch Reports | Twenty-one-year-old Nicholas DaSilva, also known as “Terror,” has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of 39-year-old Mark Frank, which occurred in 2022.
The sentencing took place in the High Court in Demerara before Acting Justice Navindra Singh. DaSilva, who was represented by Defence Counsel Madan Kissoon, entered his plea after an agreed statement of facts was presented. The State was represented by Prosecutors Christopher Belfield, Simran Gajraj, and Geneva Wills.
The incident unfolded around 7:00 AM on November 25, 2022, in Riverview. The court heard that DaSilva and Frank, a resident of La Penitence, were involved in a heated argument on a cross street. Following the confrontation, Frank walked away to a nearby shop but was later confronted again by DaSilva. As Frank returned, DaSilva produced a “Rambo” knife and stabbed him in the neck, causing him to collapse and die at the scene.
After the attack, DaSilva reportedly wiped the knife clean and returned it to its sheath before making his way toward a nearby sea dam. In a caution statement, he admitted to pulling out the knife and stating, “fired a jook” at Frank, attributing the incident to a longstanding dispute between them.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that Frank’s death was due to hemorrhage and shock caused by the stab wound.
During sentencing, Justice Singh initially set a starting sentence of 35 years. Adjustments were made based on DaSilva’s early guilty plea, expressions of remorse, and positive conduct in prison. However, years were also added to the sentence to account for the emotional suffering inflicted on Frank’s family. Ultimately, the court imposed a final sentence of 15 years, with time spent on remand to be deducted from this term.
