A Bodden Town man who shot and killed his friend over a $175 debt has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the 2022 broad daylight killing.
Appearing via video link before the Grand Court on Thursday, 9 May, Javon James Dixon listened as Judge Phillip St. John-Stevens handed down the lengthy sentence for the death of Jovin Omar Fuentes.
“You in effect, shot dead Mr. Fuentes in front of his family members in broad daylight… you immediately left the scene, leaving what you said was a friend shot and in the road as others valiantly tried to save his life,” said Justice Philip St. John-Stevens.
Dixon, who in January was convicted of manslaughter with provocation by a jury, remains adamant that he did not kill Fuentes, claiming instead that a person whom he vaguely knew as ‘Blacks’ was the gunman.
‘Blacks’ did it
Dixon was first tried on the matter in 2023 which ended in a hung jury after their deliberations failed to provide a unanimous verdict.
During both trials, the jury was told that a man whom Dixon only knows as ‘Blacks’, and who he understands is from Jamaica, had been picked up by Dixon a few minutes before the fatal encounter; and it was ‘Blacks’ who shot and killed Fuentes from the front passenger seat of Dixon’s car.
“That lie was rejected by the jury,” noted St. John-Stevens, who added that the jury also believed there was an element of provocation.
During the trial, the jurors were told that when Dixon confronted Fuentes over the unpaid money, Fuentes drew a machete, which caused matters to escalate, ending with Dixon firing two shots – one of which struck Fuentes in the chest, piercing his heart.
‘Only you know why’
Similar to a conviction of murder, manslaughter also carries with it a maximum sentence of life in prison.
However, in Dixon’s case, the prosecution called on the judge to impose a term of between 23 and 25 years in prison for Fuentes’ death.
When returning his verdict, the judge noted that he viewed an appropriate starting point for the crime as 24 years.
Having considered the aggravating factors, which included the circumstances around the killing such as the time, location and the people around, St. John-Stevens increased the sentence but did not say by how much.
He then reduced the sentence, given the mitigating factors which include Dixon’s previous good character and young age at the time.
“Only you know why… what happened, happened,” said the judge. “But there is still one question that I have not been able to get an answer to and that is what happened to the firearm.”
Before the sentencing, St. John-Stevens had told Dixon that he would be willing to reduce the sentence if the firearm in the case could be recovered. However, no information was forthcoming.
‘Thank you, Lord’
When the sentence of 23 years was returned, Fuentes’ family members, who were sitting in the back of the court, shouted, “Thank you, Lord.”
During the sentencing proceeding, the court noted that the Fuentes’ children were left orphans as a result of his death, which came two years after their mother died.
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