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March 23, 2026
Afzal Deendial, who was charged with the 2022 murder of Kareem Kayum, has walked free after pleading guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. The sentence was handed down today at the High Court in Demerara before Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh.
Deendial, 18 at the time of the offence, was initially sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment. The court applied multiple deductions, including one-third, or six years, for his guilty plea. An additional four years were deducted for favourable reports, and two more years for his conduct and youthfulness, reducing the total sentence to three years. Time served on remand, approximately four years, was also credited, effectively resulting in his immediate release.
The prosecution was led by Christopher Belfield and Geneva Wills, while the defence was represented by Latchmi Rahamat. The court heard evidence surrounding the events that led to Kayum’s death. Deendial accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed deep remorse to the family of the deceased.
In support of the accused, strong character references were presented, including statements from the Annandale Shamshul Jamar Masjid and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Moganed, highlighting Deendial’s commitment to community service, academic pursuits, and good conduct.
The probation report emphasised that Deendial had no prior criminal record, had demonstrated good behaviour while on remand, and had engaged positively with his community. The court considered these factors, along with his youth and the mitigating circumstances, in arriving at a sentence tempered with mercy.
