Court of Appeal rejects lighter sentence bid in vendor slaying

Two St Michael men who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the 2018 death of bread vendor Hayden Mayers have lost their appeal to have their sentences reduced.

Romario Hobbs Daisley, of Tranmore Lane, Waterford, and Wayne Ricardo Bryan, of School Lane, Halls Road, along with two others, had pleaded guilty to the November 8, 2018 slaying. Mayers was shot and killed while plying his trade along Bank Hall.

During their sentencing hearing in 2023, Daisley and Bryan each received a starting sentence of 15 years. After deductions for mitigating factors, time on remand and early guilty pleas, they were left with just over four years more to serve at Dodds.

The two appealed their sentences, with Daisley arguing that the court failed to assess whether an unreasonable delay had arisen in adjudicating the case.

Bryan contended that the sentence was excessive, saying the court erred in assessing the aggravating and mitigating factors and by adopting a starting point that was too high.

But following a hearing on Thursday, Justices of Appeal Francis Belle, Jacqueline Cornelius and Victoria Charles-Clarke dismissed the appeal and affirmed the sentences.

Principal State Counsel Romario Straker and State Counsel Maya Kellman appeared for the State, while defence attorneys Safiya Moore and Shadia Simpson represented Daisley and Bryan respectively.

(JB)