A Couva man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the death of a fellow villager who earlier threatened his girlfriend and her father and later provoked him, leading him to pull out a gun, shooting and killing him in 2020.

Justin Heeraman was sentenced by Justice Nalini Singh on November 18. Heeraman previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter by provocation after entering into plea discussions with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on the indictment for the April 29, 2020, murder of David Ramkissoon at Greig Street, Couva.

The judge said Heeraman’s response of firing multiple shots from inside his vehicle exceeded what was necessary even in the face of genuine and escalating threats.