Justice Sandil Kissoon on Tuesday handed a life sentence to Shivanand Roopnarine of School Street, Grove, East a Demerara, who brutally stabbed his 18-year-old girlfriend Alissa McPherson to death in April 2015.
Roopnarine, 26, pleaded guilty to a murder indictment presented against him by State Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Tuanna Hardy and Nafeeza Baig.
He could be eligible for parole after serving 20 years’ imprisonment.
Attorney Siand Dhurjon pleaded with the Judge for a lesser sentence for his client. He highlighted that Roopnarine was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the offence.
The man was on the run for one year before being captured by the Police.
He was reportedly heading to Mahdia, Region Eight and while at the checkpoint at Mabura, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), he was asked to produce a form of identification.
It was at this point that Police recognised the young man and made the arrest. It was while in custody he confessed to the crime.
According to reports, McPherson left her home and went to a party in Sophia with a male friend.
While at the party, McPherson was confronted by Roopnarine, who accused her of cheating on him with the male friend.
However, McPherson denied, and Roopnarine took her to the back of the yard, pulled out a black object from the waist of his pants and stabbed her.
McPherson was discovered in the toilet area with stab wounds and she was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
A post-mortem report later revealed that McPherson was stabbed 41 times about her body.
During his address to the court, a remorseful Roopnarine begged his girlfriend’s family for forgiveness.
The Judge considered several factors before handing down the sentence: the age of the deceased, the manner in which she was killed and the fact that a weapon was used.
