Fisherman gets five years for bar killing

Erin fisherman Joel Serenata, who fatally stabbed a man outside a bar almost six years ago, has been sentenced to five years in prison. 

In passing sentence in the San Fernando High Court on Wednesday, Justice Anthony Carmona expressed concern about violent rumshop brawls and stabbing incidents. “The court had to send an unambiguous signal that such violence resulting in death outside of rum shops will not be tolerated,” he said.

Presiding in the San Fernando High Court, the judge said many people were dying by stabbings. He referred to Marabella father Michael Williams, who was stabbed to death last week by a woman in Marabella; another stabbing incident on Ariapita Avenue, Port-of-Spain; and a man who was stabbed by five women at South Quay, Port-of-Spain.

Seerattan had pleaded guilty to stabbing Morriso Sylvan, 21, on July 6, 2007, outside Cool Scene Bar in Erin. Seerattan was drinking a beer when he and Sylvan got into an argument. 

Sylvan pushed Seerattan to the ground and Seeratan stabbed him once between the neck and shoulder. Seerattan’s attorney, Richard Valere, had said that Seerattan was provoked.

Agreeing that Seerattan was provoked, the judge said there was a shouting match and Seeratan was being cursed and harassed. 

He said Sylvan had a mixture of puncheon rum and marijuana in his system. 

However, the judge said someone lost his life and if the matter had gone to trial and Seerattan was found guilty he would have sentenced him to 12 years. 

He took into consideration that Seerattan, a father of one, pleaded guilty and had spent almost three years awaiting trial.

The State was represented by attorney Maureceia Joseph.