Manslayer to spend another 12 years in jail for elderly man’s death

A starting sentence of 24 years in prison was imposed on Renico Dadrian Murray on Friday for the 2018 shooting death of 83-year-old Oscar Hamblin.

However, after several deductions, Murray, who was recorded as having no fixed place of abode at the time he was charged, only has 12 and six months left to serve.

Appearing previously before the No. 3 Supreme Court, Murray had denied murdering Hamblin on December 21, 2018 but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. The elderly man was fatally shot while playing dominoes in Palmetto Street, The City.

“First and foremost, I would like to apologise to the deceased’s family and friends for my actions. I am a hundred times sorry for causing the death of Mr Oscar Hamblin . . . . I also want to apologise to the public of Barbados for causing them any fear on the streets, and I also want to assure the public of Barbados that this will never happen again,” Murray said on Friday.

Senior State Counsel Neville Watson said the prosecution accepted the manslaughter plea due to Murray’s unlawful act of shooting at somebody else he felt was an imminent threat.

“Officer, look, I tried running. It ain’t make no sense ‘cause the same scene with the old man, I ain’t mean for this to happen. The truth is [calls name] and them when we was in town, every time dem men see me they run me down, beat shots at me . . . . I never do them men nothing. So I see them and I did feel threatened and vex, so I shoot at them and miss and hit the old man. I feel so bad,” Murray had told officers when arrested.

Justice Greaves, in handing down the sentence, said: “This case brings to bear . . . the serious problem we have in this jurisdiction with the use of firearms . . . . It demonstrates the kind of misfortune that innocent citizens will suffer because of the callous, reckless behaviour of our youth who, for some reason, think and feel that they are justified in their actions to possess, carry and use these guns.”

The 24-year starting sentence was then imposed. Murray was given a one-third discount for his guilty plea and credited for the three years and six months he spent on remand. ]]>