Curt Thomas, who is accused of the April 30, 2016 murder of Parika fuel dealer Seeram Singh, was sentenced to 70 years behind bars by High Court Judge Navindra Singh.
Curt, also known as “Yankee,” was prosecuted by State Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker for the April 30, 2016, murder of Singh during the course/furtherance of a robbery.
On November 5, 2020, Curt was found guilty by a 12-person jury despite maintaining his innocence and even hurled a series of expletives throughout the trial.
Curt, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Lyndon Amsterdam, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The custodial sentence was handed down today during a Zoom hearing at the High Court in Demerara.
In arriving at a sentence for Thomas, Justice Singh, without providing any reasoning, started at a base of 60 years to which another 10 years were added since the evidence shows the crime was premeditated.
Thomas will become eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 40 years behind bars.
Following the court hearing, Singh’s family expressed satisfaction with the sentence imposed and is happy that justice was served.
According to Thomas’s indictment, on the day in question, he murdered Singh during the course/furtherance of a robbery. The Prosecutors are contending that Thomas killed Singh while robbing him of jewellery.
Based on reports, Singh, 52, of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, was stabbed to his abdomen and shot twice – to his head and hip. The bullet to his head was at close range and may have been the fatal shot.
At the time, media reports stated that Singh was talking to someone on his mobile phone when he was attacked and stabbed. In an attempt to raise alarm, the injured man ran towards a shop, but the gunman gave chase and caught up with him.
A scuffle ensued, and it was then the suspect discharged two rounds at Singh. Reports stated as the businessman fell, the gunman relieved him of two gold chains and escaped. Singh was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara (WCD), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
