Nutman’s killer gets 25-year starting sentence

The man who fatally shot popular nut vendor Randy Selman four years ago told a High Court on Monday: “I never wanted to hurt Randy. It hurts to see that my careless actions have cost an innocent man his life.”

Recardo Reco Lamar Best of Clapham Main Road, St Michael issued the apology in the No. 2 Supreme Court before he was given a starting sentence of 25 years in prison for killing Selman on September 23 2020.

Best said: I would like to say that I am very sorry for the wound that I have caused by my actions. I hope you find a way deep in your hearts to forgive me. Randy used to talk to me. He was a good man in the community to each and every one. I hope the court, society and the Selman family forgive me for my actions.”

Justice Randall Worrell said the aggravating factors in the case were that Best armed himself with a loaded gun, discharged it in a residential area, and there was some level of premeditation in carrying out the offence.

Pointing out that the convicted man’s pre-sentencing report painted him as having a high risk of recidivism, the judge said his two previous convictions for unlawful assault meant he did not have a clean record to use as a mitigating feature. His cooperation with police during their investigations into the shooting, as well as his prison report showing that rehabilitation was possible through anger management, drug counselling, and coping skills development, led to a one-year deduction from the 25-year starting point.

A one-third discount for his early guilty plea; the 1 390 days he has already spent on remand; and 180 days for the delay in bringing the matter to trial were also deducted, leaving him with 4 270 more days to serve at Dodds Prison.

Justice Worrell told Best: “Even though it was not your intention to kill Mr Selman, and he was an innocent bystander, you must realise that you walked about in a residential neighbourhood with a loaded firearm. So you were bent on doing some manner of unlawfulness with a firearm. You have said to the court that Mr Selman was your friend, you patronised his business, and he patronised yours, but clearly, your actions on that day in no way could be explained. There was no rationale to your actions, and you admit yourself that it was a senseless act and it was unfortunate that Mr Selman got caught up in this — a hardworking man, a progressive person trying to make it through hard work . . . has left children who will not be able to see him again.”

The convicted man was also sentenced to 10 years for the use of a firearm and 10 years for committing serious bodily harm to Trevor Ramsay with intent to maim, disfigure, or disable him, or to do some serious bodily harm to him on 23 September 2020.

After the judge made deductions, Best was left having to serve 620 days for each count. These will run concurrently with the sentence for manslaughter.

The judge also ordered that he adhere to the prison’s rehabilitation plan and enrol in the education classes provided.

Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens represented Best, while Principal State Counsel Oliver Thomas was the prosecutor.