Jail for beating brother to death

A man charged with murdering his brother in 2009 has been sentenced to serve 11 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a lesser count of manslaughter.

Joel Demas, of Bournes Road, St James, was before Justice Hayden St Clair-Douglas in the Port of Spain High Court where he pleaded guilty to beating to death his brother Johan on February 27, 2009.

Although he was sentenced to 11 years in prison with hard labour, Demas will only serve out the next two years and four months as the time he has spent on remand was deducted from the full term imposed by the judge. He was also on the receiving end of a discount for his guilty plea.

It was the State’s case that sometime before Johan died of his injuries, he and Demas got into a fight at Bournes Road, St James, resulting in Johan being dealt several blows.

Johan was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he later died.