Men jailed for 15 years in fatal bar beating

| 03/08/2021 | 122 Comments
Jeremy Parchman (left) and Shimar Kelly (from social media)

(CNS): Jeremy Parchman (21) and Shimar Kelly (23) were each sentenced on Tuesday to seven and a half years in prison for the manslaughter of Dinesh Asanka Fernando Wannukawatta-Waduge from Sri Lanka, who was working in Cayman as a chef when he was killed at Bananas nightclub, George Town, in 2019. Parchman and Kelly were found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in January of this year. The men had beaten up Wannukawatta-Waduge just outside the bar, punching him in the head, but because of a pre-existing medical condition, this caused a hemorrhage and his death.

As she explained her sentence, Justice Cheryll Richards said she had taken into account all of the challenges relating to the case, and the fact that the men had not intended to kill the victim and that were it not for his medical condition he likely would not have died.

But she pointed out that it was still an “unprovoked, callous and deliberate attack” that may have been opportunistic but was retaliatory. The victim, she said, “was defenseless” and the fatal blow had been loud enough to draw attention to the witnesses.

Justice Richards said that the men were guilty of the most serious of offences and a life had been lost that cannot be replaced. She spoke of the tragic consequences for Wannukawatta-Waduge’s young family in Sri Lanka, and said the impact on them of his killing could not be underestimated. His wife is suffering from cancer and is the only caregiver to their two-year-old daughter. But she is unable to work and without her husband’s economic support she no longer has the money to finance the cancer treatment she needs.

As she handed down the 90 month jail term to each of the men, she said she had taken both the aggravating factors and mitigating circumstances into account and the sentence was the lowest she could impose.

According to the circumstances of this case, Kelly and Parchman had beaten Wannukawatta-Waduge after Parchman’s brother, Kevin, had already punched him and knocked him to the ground in the club. Wannukawatta-Waduge had been accused of touching Kevin Parchman’s girlfriend.

Security had assisted Wannukawatta-Waduge and helped him to leave the bar. But around one minute later Kelly and Parchman were seen coming out of the bar on CCTV. According to witnesses, the two men beat him up in the car park of the bar and then left him on the ground.

Bystanders called the emergency services but after they arrived he was pronounced dead. Shortly afterwards it emerged that Wannukawatta-Waduge had a pre-existing illness that made him vulnerable to injury, which exacerbated the beating he received, and the injuries caused his death.

Kevin Parchman was also charged in this case but was not involved in the beating outside the bar and had previously pleaded guilty to ABH in relation to punching Wannukawatta-Waduge inside the bar.


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Category: Courts, Crime

Comments (122)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    If they were Caymanian they would have gotten more time.

    • Anonymous says:

      They are Caymanian…

    • Anonymous says:

      VERY MUCH CAYMANIAN! But very unfortunate for these young men and the man who lost his life. This could have been avoided. Make it be a learning lesson for all that LIQUOR is just as bad a drug as they come! A life lost and 2 young men locked up not a good situation/outcome for a “BAR FIGHT”.

      • Anonymous says:

        The only people this is unfortunate for are the victim and his friends and family. This is what happens occasionally when you go punching people to the ground and it’s a risk these two losers chose to take. Spinning this as a drunken bar fight in which they were just unlucky tells a very different story from the case reported of the two of them attacking him in cold blood after he had left the bar and then leaving him to die…

      • Anonymous says:

        ‘Bar Fight’…? They murdered him! What do you not understand.

    • Anonymous says:

      These young men are Cayman Brac. Parchment is a Bracker.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Where I live the newspaper occasionally does a review of the sentences different judges are giving for various serious crimes. It makes it obvious which judges are out of step. Some of these reported sentences seems quite light and one wonders if its all the judges or just certain ones.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Send them to Belmarsh, Wakefield, Durham, Barlinnie, Scrubs. Not the Northward Hilton. Let’s see how these pieces of trash would cope in a REAL jail.

  4. Anonymous says:

    The sentence was the lowest she could impose..the lowest. She would would have gone down if she could…is this for real?

    • Anonymous says:

      Right? We don’t need bleeding heart judges here! Prosecution screws up enough cases but to have a judge looking to impose lowest sentence on cases where there are actually convictions is utterly ridiculous!

  5. Anonymous says:

    So two of you pieces of shxt to beat and kill that defenseless man. Unna should rot in prison. You are a couple of cowards that never got what you really deserved!

  6. Anonymous says:

    So you get nothing for assault and about 4 years for murder. Good to know. Are these tariffs applicable to everyone or does it depend on the nationality of victim?

    • Anonymous says:

      Nothing to do with nationality. All to do with perceived social status. If it was the judge’s family member or some “established” member of society, despite nationality, it’s doubtful the sentence would have been as shamefully light.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Imagine the sentence if it were the Sri Lankan who killed one of these local gems?! smdh talk about a slap on the wrist. I’ve seen cases where ppl get more than half their sentence for fraud on the government.

  8. Anonymous says:

    “were it not for his medical condition he likely would not have died.”

    Er no, let me rephrase that judge. Were it not for these two pin heads assaulting him he likely would not have died. When you resort to cowardly attacking someone in this manner you run the risk of killing them and should face 100% of the penalty for doing so. The medical condition of the victim is irrelevant, he could just as easy knocked his head as a result and had the same outcome.

  9. Anonymous says:

    PACT please sit down with thejudges and figure out if new sentencing guideliens, or penalties in the laws, are needed. – Or is it that the judges (or reporters) need to do a better job of explaining the factors they take into account. – This would be a good case to use as an example in your discussions.

    The changes that appear to need to be made – increasing the expected penalty for certain types of crimes – is in the hands of the Parliament. (Don’t let the need for better prisons deter you.)

  10. Anonymous says:

    What happened to hard labour camps? 7.5 years or more like what most are saying, 4 years sounds like a vacation in our Queen’s Hotel🤬

  11. Anonymous says:

    Next time I get jumped from behind I’ll be sure to let them know that I have a pre-existing condition and to take it easy on me.

    If any of his friends/family start a GoFundMe I hope they publicize it here so that all of us can donate. I certainly would.

    Does Cayman provide anything in the law for reparations for victims? Because that is what should have happened here.

    Big men here teaching an ex-pat a good ol’ Caymanian lesson about brushing past someone’s GF at a bar… Even the BF should be charged for instigating it. And why wasn’t he??? You can’t tell me that those punks went out on their own to beat someone to a pulp without a conversation being held about it.

    I would genuinely like to know the REAL story about how it all started. Caymanian punks need to know what happens when you play Bully-the-expat-with-a-beating of this life.

  12. Anonymous says:

    cayman justice = no justice.
    what would have happend if the victim was caymanian???

    • Anonymous says:

      Unfortunately, more Caymanians than you think are not given justice either.

      As a Caymanian, I am genuinely heartbroken with the ultimate fate of the victim akin to his loved ones. However, I sadly cannot say I am surprised by the assault, being familiar with both defendants’ track records and backgrounds.

      We simply need higher standards of accountability in Cayman that are properly enforced, regardless of individuals being Caymanian or not.

  13. Anonymous says:

    I’m not sure exactly what Justice Richards has taken into account, the poor fella was already punched and knocked to the ground before being led outside by security and these two clowns decided to chase him down and go for more. Of course it matters that Mr Wannukawatta-Waduge died but the intent was so malicious to cause further serious injury after the initial event that I’m not convinced the defendants in the heat of the moment really cared whether it was fatal or not. You just don’t behave that way. 🤬

  14. Anonymous says:

    So the aggrieved party hit the dead man. Yet these two nutters decided to have a go and get some anger out as well and they killed him. Sorry people make poor decisions all the time and they last longer than 7.5 years. Should be 12 -15 years.

  15. Anonymous says:

    The result of terrible parenting and a grandparent who justified everything wrong that these got involved in as children.

    • Anonymous says:

      Contraception.

      • Anonymous says:

        or just being responsible….have to learn having a child is not the achievement…raising one properly is.

        • D. Truth says:

          Caymanians don’t seem to care. If they did, they would do their best to raise their children to be good citizens.

    • Anonymous says:

      I can’t disagree more! Everyone has the ability and opportunity to choose their moral ethics. I cannot blame my mother or father for my actions or ethics – they are MY choice.

      Don’t deflect blame onto elder generations!

      Yes, I understand the impact of upbringing, but that does not solidify future morals – that is for ME and THEM to choose.

      They murdered another person… It is not on their parents. It is on them!

  16. Anonymous says:

    Callously killing a young man and leaving his very young children fatherless!! Sentenced to only seven years?? How is this possible? This sentence MUST be appealed by the DPP!! Stand up Cayman! Demand more from your representatives and that your MP insist that this sentence is appealed.

    The punishment for manslaughter is life in prison. (See s.183 of the Penal Code and schedule 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code) https://legislation.gov.ky/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1975/1975-0012/PenalCode_2019%20Revision.pdf
    https://legislation.gov.ky/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1975/1975-0013/CriminalProcedureCode_2021%20Revision.pdf

  17. Candid says:

    The law, I understand, is that you take your victim as you find him. If he is an eggshell, you still have killed him. Clearly, they picked on him. Should have been about 12 years.

  18. Oh yawww says:

    Well ya better walk with your health record ID if you touch my wife when me and her out having a drink, cuz ah wha tell ya I whooping @$#%&£¥

    • Anonymous says:

      How do you know he actually did? You need to calm down and take a breath.

    • Anonymous says:

      You take your wife to banana’s for drinks and then are surprised? Anyway should a person be killed by a couple of you punks for touching someones “wife”?

      • Anonymous says:

        YES, I should be able to ‘take my wife to Bananas’ and feel safe, and ‘not surprised.’

        What kind of country do you wish to live in??????

  19. Anonymous says:

    Huhhh…
    7.5years each=15years???!

  20. Anonymous says:

    Misleading headline, 7yrs for killing a small family of three…

    Boy will be boys… 😥

  21. Anonymous says:

    Hey remember the Canadian woman who sort of swindled the old Aussie for 2m…she originally got 12 years….so Cayman’s finest get 3 more for gang up and murdering one person…yeah this isn’t 3rd world 🙂

    • Yeah, 3rd world. says:

      @03/08/2021 at 8:35 pm – Meanwhile, back in your home country, innocent people are gunned down DAILY over a parking spot, children are murdered in their car seats because someone did not like how their mother changed lanes, innocent people are murdered in their churches and synagogues because someone doesn’t like how they pray, innocent women working in massage parlors are murdered at work simply because some kid blames them for this own sexual urges…shall I go on? Yeah, maybe Cayman is third world, but its still better than living in YOUR country.

      • Anonymous says:

        yeah your rants seem to address the problem.

      • Anonymous says:

        You are right. Compared to Cayman, Jamaica is awful.

      • Anonymous says:

        And you know the OPs country of origin how, exactly?

      • Anonymous says:

        What a horrible response. I am ashamed if this was posted by a Caymanian. Ignorance sublime.

        Yes, Cayman is 3’rd world due to its electing polluted, corrupt officials term after term after term.

        We don’t enforce laws.
        We turn a blind eye to corruption.
        We ignore the rape of our land.
        We see with our own eyes a woman getting assaulted – then elect that monster to the highest office in our country.

        And YOU stand there and declare that OUR country is any better than others….
        Shame.
        Shame.
        Shame.

    • Anonymous says:

      Wow they actually received 4.5 years less….what a country….no wonder the world looks at us like a bunch of backward natives….we got politicians getting grounded for beating up women in public…..local punks getting a few years for ganging up and killing an expat. Geez you must be very proud.

    • Anonymous says:

      That lady was an actual legal signatory on that man’s account. Was she using him? Clearly. Manipulative? Yes. Morally wrong? Yup. Illegal? Nope
      You truly get less time for murder in this country than anything else.

      • Anonymous says:

        Well she was disgusting and at best abused a position of trust possibly with favors and promises…disgusting person but 12 years was definitely extremely excessive.

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually, they got 5 years LESS – 7.5 each, not 15.

  22. nauticalone345 says:

    Misleading headline and rubbish low sentence! They’ll be out in 4 years. Some get that much time for possession of ganja?

    Now the mans wife, without adequate treatment that she can no longer afford, is likely to die and leave the young child an orphan.

    And “Security had assisted Wannukawatta-Waduge and helped him to leave the bar. But around one minute later Kelly and Parchman were seen coming out of the bar on CCTV. According to witnesses, the two men beat him up in the car park of the bar and then left him on the ground.”

    Why did security help him outside and allow the beating to continue 1 minute later?…resulting in the fatal blow?
    The security should be charged for negligence also!

  23. Anonymous says:

    I like the part where everyone says “If they were Caymanian they would have thrown the book at them..” (and I always chuckle)
    Welp! Apparently not. That judge looked for any/all reason to give the least possible sentence. Seemed quite proud of that.

    SHE IS WRONG

    • Anonymous says:

      You don’t understand. That was judicial language for: “I am passing the heaviest sentence that I can in line with the guidelines and I am saying this to try to stop it being reduced by the Court of Appeal at a later date.”

  24. The truth is. says:

    You can Kill in Cayman very little time you will get. this needs to Stop eye for a eye tooth for a tooth.

    • Anonymous says:

      Take your shithole mentality and go back to your shithole country

      • Anonymous says:

        Well spoken from an educated individual. Maybe a dictionary and book on ethics/morals would comfort you.

        Probably not!

    • Anonymous says:

      Well if you’re Caymanian in Cayman…don’t want to deprive cayman’s future of these bright young POS’s…justice in this country is a joke

  25. Anonymous says:

    This sentence shows just how much we value lives here

  26. Anonymous says:

    Well I am a Caymanian and this sentence I don’t agree with. I think they should have given 25 years to Life. They should have to serve the 25 years before even being considered for parole.

    • Anonymous says:

      I have no idea who or what nationality the 2 chaps were and I’m not interested , but 2 v 1 added to a death, well I totally agree 7 1/2 years and out in 3 1/4 is simple not enough and in fairness a bit of an insult to the pour sole who lost his life

      Siri Lanka perhaps maybe the answer and in which world life is valued more – I’m certain if the shoe was on the other foot the outcome would be entirely different

      On this occasion it seems to be a zero value situation and a cease that your life does not matter one bit scenario ???

      What a slickening world we live, if death is now a result of a late night drink at a bar selling alcohol and whereby 2 can kill 1 and the 2 of us didn’t mean it (piss take , bullies and crock of shit spring to minds ) lets face it everyone knows it but no one will say

      Someone’s child , A father and a husband and all added up meant nothing with the sentenced

      Quite scary really

      • Anonymous says:

        A murder is a murder. No matter Sri Lanka, Cayman, Peru, etc.

        This sentencing is a bold stain on the Cayman Justice System.

        What a travesty to our country who aspires to be respected… Sadly, we are not worthy of respect.

  27. anon says:

    At least it was a trial by judge alone, imagine the result if it had been a trial by jury of their peers.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Well. Case closed. It’s all done. Peace be with all.

  29. CayGirl says:

    should be 15 years + each

    that woman and her child are now without the dad/husband due to these two boys stupidity.

    start imposing the maximum sentence in killing not the lowest damnit

  30. Anonymous says:

    They will be out next year

  31. Robert Mugabe IV says:

    Totally misleading headline. Should read ‘Killers get 7 1/2 years but will be out in less than 3”

    Knowing the farcical way too lenient ‘justice’ system we have here.

  32. Anonymous says:

    Jeremy and Shimar use your time away to learn from this experience and make yourselves better.

    • Seasoned thugs in training says:

      They’ll probably just gain knowledge about other criminal activities in prison.

  33. Anon says:

    Little Boys are cowards very brave to beat someone up when it’s 2 on 1

  34. Anonymous says:

    The whole lot are nothing but trouble. The brothers need to be in prison as well.

  35. Anonymous says:

    7.5 years, for effectively 2 deaths, now the widow cannot afford to treat her cancer.
    Not to mention the affect losing both parents will have on the poor 2 year old.

  36. Anonymous says:

    Wow judge went for the lightest sentence she could give, guess they will serve one or two years and then be pardoned. So as long as these type of hoodlums get away with murder then we are all in for trouble. We all need to be able to carry guns so we can defend ourselves!

  37. Anonymous says:

    Too lenient of a sentence – sorry not sorry. God Bless the victim’s family.

  38. Anonymous says:

    No early release for effs sake.

  39. Anonymous says:

    Judge was pleased that she could give the LOWEST sentence????? WTH?
    These tough guys need to spend the maximum!! Destroyed 5 lives because some touched your girlfriend?
    Did he honk her boob or brushed past her arm? WTH?
    Wonder how good they felt about themselves as they strolled back into the bar after murdering a man. oN aCcIDenT because he had a condition…
    That sentence isn’t even long enough if the man had lived.
    And what if he lived but was brain damaged and incapacitated for the rest of his life? Becoming a burden to his family that is burdened now because the bread winner is gone.
    All involved make me sick to my stomach. The judge too. prison is for punishment…

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with you 1000%.

    • Anonymous says:

      @2.47 While I agree with almost of your post, prison isn’t for punishment. The punishment is the loss of their liberty. And while the sentence is indeed laughable, we don’t want to go down the North Korea route or middle east route whereby prisoners are routinely tortured . Or indeed the Guantanamo Bay route where the Americans decided waterboarding was a good idea. The answer lies in getting your MPs to change the damn law to allow for decent sentencing guidelines.

  40. Anonymous says:

    Not enough. 15 years each would be about right. I hope the CPS appeal the sentence.

  41. Anonymous says:

    “she said she had taken both the aggravating factors and mitigating circumstances into account and the sentence was the lowest she could impose.”

    How about you stop looking to give the lowest sentence you can and instead impose proper justice for killing someone? These two will be out in 4 years. – 4 years for killing someone and ruining a family, what kind of justice is that?

    • Anonymous says:

      They will be out long before 5 years. I know of persons sentenced to 7 years and out in less than 2.

  42. Anonymous says:

    Not only did they kill this poor man, but what about the wife and her cancer treatment? Can she no longer afford it? If so, that’s another death they are accountable for.

    I wonder if there’s a gofundme or similar where we can prove that the people of Cayman aren’t thugs like these two.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes!!! I thought the same thing. These losers should have to pay her treatments from now on plus money for the child. Sick sick sick. This is why we have criminals. They get away with literally MURDER.

  43. Anonymous says:

    Good riddance to these waste boys y’all really need to grow up and stop being a nuisance to the brac and grand cayman…

  44. Anonymous says:

    Misleading headline. 2 men x 7.5 years each does not equal 15 years!

    • Anonymous says:

      Should have given them 15 years a piece like headline implies. That would have been a good start!

    • C'Mon Now! says:

      They should be jailed for 15 years or more and made to pay reparations to the victim’s family.

      They jumped him and then callously left a man to die on the ground in the car park, their defense was we only meant to hurt him, we didn’t think he’d die.

      Society should have little time for this and I don’t care what any of the commentators that jump in to say what “good” boys they are have to say. This sort of thing happens too often in Cayman and needs to stop.

    • Anonymous says:

      Especially when they wont serve anywhere near the 7.5 either.

  45. Anonymous says:

    Too short a time for these two. What about the assault on the elderly man in Cayman Brac that it is alleged that one or both may have been involved in.

  46. Anonymous says:

    Punks.

    • Anonymous says:

      Should have been murder, it’s a basic tenet of law – you take your victim as you find them.

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