DONALD Grovesnor was sentenced to six years in prison by the High Court last Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter over the death of Suraj Jailall, a villager.

Grovesnor’s sentencing marks the conclusion of a tragic case arising from an altercation in Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD), in 2019.

Grovesnor, 30, known as “Black Boy,” of Sisters Village, WBD, who originally faced a murder charge, opted to plead guilty to the lesser charge. He admitted unlawfully killing Jailall, 29, called ‘Nishal’, between March 3 and 4, 2019.

The conflict that began in February of that year reportedly escalated into violence when the two men drank together at a community store on March 3, 2024.

An argument broke out, leading Grovesnor to confront Jailall, who also resided in the same community.

Although he initially returned home, Grovesnor returned armed with a machete and struck Jailall, who succumbed to his injuries the next day at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Jailall suffered a serious head injury in the attack, which partially severed his ear.

Grovesnor’s sentence, handed down by Judge Navindra Singh, began with a base of 12 years.

However, several mitigating factors influenced the reduction of the sentence. His early guilty plea led to a four-year deduction, reducing it to eight years.

An additional two years were taken away due to his repentance and favorable parole report, leaving a final sentence of six years. This period will be further reduced when Grovesnor is remanded in custody, having been in custody since March 2019 awaiting trial.

The case was prosecuted by lawyers Muntaz Ali, Madana Rampersaud and Christopher Belfield. Attorney Ronald Bostwick represented Grovesnor.