Former prison escapee gets life imprisonment for attempted murder

Jul 06, 2018 News

Former prison escapee, Stafrei Alexander, was convicted on an attempted murder charge after a mixed 12-member jury delivered an 11-1 verdict in relation to the offence at the Georgetown High Court yesterday.
Alexander was among the batch of escapees from the major Camp Street Prison break, last year. He was recaptured in Berbice after weeks of being on the run.
Yesterday, Justice Sandil Kissoon imposed a life sentence on Alexander for the near fatal shooting of Curtis Thom back in 2015, at Laing Avenue, Georgetown. This was Alexander’s second time in the High Court for the offence. His first trial back in 2017 ended in a hung jury.
Following yesterday‘s announcement of a verdict, Justice Kissoon examined a probation report presented on Alexander’s behalf. The judge also listened to a plea of mitigation presented by Attorney Stanley Moore before passing the life sentence.
The indictment against Alexander, also known as ‘Mad Dog’, alleged that on March 23, 2015 in the County of Demerara, he discharged a loaded firearm at Thom with intent to commit murder.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was being represented by retired judge Stanley Moore. The State, represented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt, had also presented an alternate indictment for Alexander.
That charge alleged that on March 23, 2015, Alexander discharged a loaded firearm at Thom, with intent to maim, disable, or cause serious bodily harm.
According to the prosecution, on the day in question, Thom held a christening at his Laing Avenue, Georgetown, residence to welcome his baby daughter. When the event ended and the guests left in the wee hours of the following morning, Thom went to the back of the property to clean up and feed his dogs.
Moments later, Alexander reportedly walked past Thom and grumbled something, which Thom did not hear. But as Thom was entering his house in a backward position, he saw Alexander standing next to him holding what appeared to be a shine gun.
Alexander allegedly shot Thom twice and the victim collapsed to the ground and began bleeding. The injured man underwent surgery and was hospitalized for seven weeks.
Thom was able to see his shooter with the aid of lights attached to his home and surrounding buildings, the prosecution had disclosed.
In his testimony, Thom told the court that he had known Alexander for a number of years since he resided about six to seven houses away from him in Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
On March 23, 2015, Thom said that he went to the back of his yard to feed his dogs just after a christening celebration, which was held for his baby daughter.
Thom said that while feeding the dogs, he heard a grumble and when he looked up, he saw Alexander passing in his direction. He said that he continued feeding his dogs and eventually locked them up in a kennel.
“It got an old tradition that when you get a young baby you go in (the house) by your back,” the witness told the court. Thom recalled that while going in his house, Alexander appeared in front of him and afterwards he heard a loud sound and felt a burning sensation in his chest.
According to Thom, he then cursed Alexander and inquired from him as to why he was shooting him. The victim told the court that he called out for help and three more shots were fired at him.
Thom said that he was able to see Alexander’s entire face due to the reflection of lights from nearby building

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