Teen to serve 10 years for schoolmate’s fatal stabbing

Mar 21, 2014 News

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By Zena Henry
Decked out in all-white, 19-year-old murder accused Akeem Roberts appeared relatively calm when he faced Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court yesterday to be sentenced for the murder of his St. George’s High schoolmate, Shane George.
The teen had pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter even before the Court could have empanelled a 12-member jury to start the murder trial. Taking into account several factors highlighted in a probation report which showed promise on the part of the teen, Justice Singh sentenced the young man to 10 years imprisonment.

Starting at 30 years, Justice Singh removed four years for the teen’s expression of remorse, two years for the period he was on remand, another six for the early guilty plea and five more years for the favourable probation report which was presented by a state social service worker.
The court went on to deduct additional years for the impeccable report which revealed that within months of the teen being placed on remand, he became a prison orderly which according to prison officers is very difficult to attain and requires very good behaviour and discipline on the part of the inmate.  The court recognized also that the teen had commenced repairing his life having being involved in every prison programme available and further recognized his fault; anger management in dealing with the matter which had him sitting in the accused box of the court.
Reports are that on May 16, 2012, Roberts and George were involved in an altercation, while attending lessons at the Morgan Learning Centre in John Street and Stone Avenue, Campbellville. The fight ended up with George receiving a single stab to the heart; a fatal blow which the teen succumbed to before he arrived at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The probation report showed that Roberts was very remorseful for the act he had committed. He was a resident of Ogle Road on the East Coast of Demerara; and was raised in a nuclear family. He came from a humble, hardworking family with parents who worked towards instilling proper values. They were not well off and prior to the incident, Roberts was taken out of Secondary school because of poor academic performance.
He was however enrolled in afternoon classes at the Morgan Learning Centre six days a week. According to the report, Roberts described George as a popular boy who “dressed in the latest brand name attire”. George was a persistent teaser and would find joy making fun of those who were clad in what he (George) did not favour.
While Roberts said he avoided George, they were however involved in the altercation resulting in a crime being committed. Roberts admitted to the probation officer that he believed he had anger management issues because of some of the hardships he faced in school. Before encountering George, he had in the past dealt with teasing issues, since he was not fortunate to enjoy the “finer things”.   However, his (Roberts) being taken out of school had a negative impact on him, and the fact that he was also removed from a music and dance group, pressured him some more. The report indicated that the teen found relaxation and peace when he was dancing and entertaining.
Reports from Roberts’s past school, the prison and community showed that Roberts was a well mannered youth that for the most part went on peacefully. The school said there was never a major incident that involved Roberts and while he was not an outstanding academic performer, he had promise.  Neighbours described Roberts and his family as peaceful, humble people who usually graced the neighbourhood with beautiful music.
The report from prison administrators showed that Roberts was well mannered with a character “contrary” to his actions. The teen had engaged in anger management classes while on remand and involved in information technology classes among other things. Within months of incarceration, Roberts was a prison orderly for one year. Prison officials were reported as saying that if they were to recommend a second chance for anyone, it would be for Roberts.
Attorney Mark Waldron, who represented the accused, reiterated all the positive factors and urged the court for a sentence that would not see two young lives being taken away. State prosecutor Denika Singh asked the court to recognize that the fight between the teen had finished when Roberts returned with a knife and fatally stabbed George. She said Roberts was a jealous boy who grudged George for what he had.
Roberts apologized to the family of the deceased and to his own family for the suffering he had caused. He asked both sides for forgiveness.
Justice Singh before handing down his sentence emphasized that he was faced with a sad and difficult decision, before expressing his knowledge of school bouts and behaviour. He explained how difficult it was to come up with a fitting sentence, “because I think you understand what you did was wrong and are on your way to making it right.”
He said he tried to give balance for the victim’s family and the accused (Roberts). After explaining also that he does not believe in criminalizing young people, the sentence was handed down and the court wished Roberts luck in his obvious promise to do better.

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