Shaun Antonio Jackson has been sentenced to 31 years in prison for murdering Randy Kelsey Robinson during an early morning brawl at the Carib Café in George Town in May last year.
Appearing before the Grand Court on Tuesday, 13 Feb., Jackson, 22, listened in silence as Justice Marlene Carter handed down the lengthy prison sentence.
“You have lost your youth by your own hands,” Carter told Jackson, who stabbed Robinson five times.
Robinson, 37, died after being stabbed in the heart, chest and stomach.
During the trial, it came to light that Jackson and co-defendant Alexander Woodhouse had initially attacked another victim, whom they believed had disrespected them.
That man, who was out celebrating with his wife, told the jury that the two men, whom he had never seen before that night, had approached him and told him, he “was not leaving the party alive”.
“Your need to be respected has deprived Randy Robinson’s 11 children of their father, his parents of their son, and his wife of her life partner,” Carter told Jackson as she delivered her sentence.
On 14 Dec. last year, Jackon was convicted of Robinson’s murder, as well as of wounding the other man, who became the prosecution’s main witness in the case.
Woodhouse was also convicted of wounding the witness, but was acquitted of Robinson’s murder.
A third defendant, Matthew Stefan Glasgow, was acquitted of all charges.
Jackson’s murder conviction carries a sentence of up to life in prison. However, in line with Cayman’s Conditional Release Act, all defendants convicted of murder must be given a mandatory minimum tariff (or term of imprisonment), which is 30 years.
Barring Jackson’s relative youth and previous good character, Carter noted that there were no other notable mitigating circumstances. She did, however, find several aggravating factors.
“This incident took place in a nightclub where a birthday party was being conducted, persons were scrambling to get away as the violence began,” said Carter.
She added that another aggravating factor was the fact that Robinson was not the original target, and that Jackson chose to depart from attacking the main victim, “going beyond the joint participation”, and stabbing Robinson, leaving him dying on the ground.
“The five stab wounds were significant, the first three injuries were all potentially life threatening,” Carter said. “You demonstrated an intention to kill, within seconds, and then walked past him without any attempt to assist or call for help.”
She sentenced him to 31 years for murder, and four years, to be served concurrently, for the wounding charge.
In parting words to Jackson, Carter said, “Respect is not something that is earned through fear and intimidation with a big knife.”
She added, “You have lost your youth by your own hands… I hope you find the necessary programmes and steps to help you improve while you serve your sentence.”
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