Man who killed transgender sex worker sentenced to 20 years

Georgetown: Ron ‘Andel’ Forde was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the July 22, 2015 murder of Nephi Noel Luther called “Noel Luther.”

The sentence was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh in the Georgetown High Court.

On July 27, at Quamina and Carmichael Streets, Georgetown, Forde murdered Noel, 20, of ZZ Durban Street, Wortmanville. Days after Nephi was gunned down the police issued a wanted bulletin for Forde and Kanand Ojha in connection with the killing. However, Ojha of Lot 2 First Street, Meadow Bank, EBD, is still on the run. According to reports, Noel was shot once to his chest during a confrontation with two men, believed to be Forde and Ojha. On the night of the shooting, Ojha reportedly left the Guyana National Stadium and went in the vicinity of St George’s Cathedral, where he paid a sex worker, reported to be Noel, $5000 to perform a sex act.

During the act, he was reportedly relieved of his personal belongings. After the act was completed, he left on his motor car, but subsequently realized that his phone and cash were missing. It is alleged that Ojha collected Forde and went back to the location where they confronted Noel who denied doing business with the man, which resulted in an argument.

At this time, Ojha’s friend, Forde reportedly pulled out the gun and pulled the trigger, shooting the sex worker to his chest. Noel fell on the road and the two men fled the scene in the vehicle.

The police later arrived on the scene and assisted with transporting the sex worker to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy told the court that Luther was shot in the presence of others while he was unharmed. As such, the Prosecutor asked that the sentence reflect his actions, given the fact that a life was lost.

The accused then told the Judge that he regrets his actions and apologised to the relatives of the deceased as he asked for leniency in his sentencing.

Justice Singh told the court that he took into consideration that Forde has accepted what he did and during his time incarcerated, he placed himself in harm’s way to save other prisoners and underwent two surgeries so far for burns he sustained.

The Judge added that Forde has shown remorse but a life was lost; the judge described the incident as “stupid” and pointed out that a firearm was used to commit the crime.

Justice Singh then sentenced Forde to 20 years in jail and ordered that time served should be deducted from his sentence as he urged him to make use of the programmes offered in prison to enhance his life for re-integration into society.