Father killer goes home

Ramesh Seunarine was yesterday given the best Christmas gift he could ask for—freedom after spending eight years in prison for killing his father. Seunarine, 23, who chopped to death his father when he was 15 years old, was put on a two-year bond by Justice Prakash Moosai to be of good behaviour. Outside the San Fernando High Court yesterday, Seunarine was embraced by his mother Ashtotie Sinanan who was among several relatives waiting to see him.

Elated to be reunited with her son, Sinanan said: “I plan to have a Merry Christmas with him.” Giving thanks to God, Seunarine said he did not have an immediate plan but he intend to enjoy his freedom. “I feel happy,” he added. Seunarine killed his father Raymond, 40, while he was lying on a couch at their Buenos Aires, Erin, home on August 15, 2002.  During the attack Raymond received seven chop wounds and his nose was severed.

In 2006, Seunarine pleaded guilty to the charge of murder before Justice Herbert Volney, but because of his age, could not be given the death penalty. He was ordered to serve six years at the court’s pleasure.
In a statement to the police, Seunarine said his father verbally abused him and planassed him with a cutlass for smoking. Seunarine said he ran away and was hiding out by a friend in Chatham. However, his father found him and took him back home.  Seunarine attacked his father two days later.

When his sentence came up for review on Thursday, his attorney Mark Seepersad submitted that he had already paid his dues to society. State attorney Jeron Joseph did not object to him being freed but asked that certain conditions be attached to his discharge. Giving his decision yesterday, Justice Prakash Moosai said the reports from the Probation Officer and the Prisons Authority stated that Seunarine was not a threat to society and recommended that he be released.

The judge said there were more mitigating factors in the case than aggravation factors. Moosai said he took into consideration the abuse Seunarine would have suffered at the hands of his father. All the reports, he said, spoke in one voice, describing him in glowing terms. However, he ordered that for two years Seunarine must reside with his mother, be supervised by a probation officer, take councelling for once a month and it was suggested that he further his education.