Varying prison sentences were imposed on the four St Michael young men for their roles in the shooting death of bread vendor Hayden Mayers over four years ago.
Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell on Friday sentenced Kishmar Issachar Omar Young of Chase Gap, Halls Road; Wayne Ricardo Bryan of School Lane, Halls Road; Romario Hobbs Daisley of Tranmore Lane, Waterford; and Rashon Akeem Sealy of 3rd Avenue Alleynes Land, Bush Hall.
The quartet had pleaded guilty to the offence of manslaughter in connection with Mayers’ death on November 8, 2018 death. He was shot and killed while plying his trade along Bank Hall, St Michael.
Handing down the sentences in Supreme Court No. 4, Justice Smith-Bovell stated that the aggravating circumstances in the case were that a life was lost and death occurred in the course of furthering another offence, namely robbery which was premeditated and planned by four persons, two of whom were lookouts.
Also aggravating was the fact that at the time of his death, Mayers was carrying out his legitimate business. The judge further pointed out that the deadly incident took place in the presence of other persons, the deceased’s sister and another young customer, who were at risk of being injured, as well as the impact of Mayers’ death on his family and the fact that the gun was never recovered.
In the case of Young, the judge stated that he approached the deceased with the gun drawn, which clearly suggested an intention to use it if necessary.
Justice Smith-Bovell imposed a starting sentence of 18 years for Young, which increased by one year to 19 years, given that the aggravating features outweighed the mitigating.
He was then given a one-third discount for his guilty plea and credited for 1 614 days on remand, leaving him with 10 years and 243 days more to serve.
In Sealy’s case, the judge said, he was the one who provided the gun used in the robbery that resulted in Bryan’s death, and he also assisted in the disposal or hiding of the firearm which was never recovered.
He was also slapped with an 18-year starting sentence but given a reduction of two years for his mitigating features. Following deductions for his guilty plea and the 1 773 days he had already spent on remand, Sealy has five years and 295 days more to serve.
For their roles as lookouts, Daisley and Bryan were each given a starting sentence of 15 years.
In Daisley’s case, his mitigating features saw a one-year deduction while Bryan’s sentence was reduced by 18 months.
Following one-third deductions for their guilty pleas and credit given for the 1 773 spent on remand, Daisley was left with four years and 96 more days at Dodds; while Bryan has four years and 50 days left to serve.
All four were ordered to enrol in any educational and vocational programmes available at the prison to equip them for re-entry into society. As part of his rehabilitation, Daisley must also take part in any reading classes offered.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC was the prosecutor in the matter. Bryan was represented by attorneys Sade Harris and Michael Lashley SC; Young had Safiya Moore as his lawyer; Daisley had defence counsel Sian Lange; and Sealey was represented by attorney Romain Marshall.
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