‘Bumpy’ gets 12 ½ years for killing friend

Feb 06, 2019 News

By Feona Morrison

Renwick Alexander, 69, was yesterday sentenced to 12 ½ years behind bars for the unlawful killing of his childhood friend, Carl Thomas, called ‘Dog’, whom he stabbed with a knife. Alexander, also known as, ‘Bumpy’, was arraigned before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Georgetown where he pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge.

JAILED: Renwick Alexander

Alexander, who was initially indicted for murder, opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence admitting that on November 3, 2010, in the county of Demerara, he unlawfully killed Thomas. After admitting guilt, Alexander expressed remorse for his actions.
In 2014, Alexander was tried and convicted for murder over this same killing and was sentenced to 56 years’ imprisonment by the same Justice Singh. Alexander then appealed to the Court of Appeal which ordered a retrial in November 2018.
In ordering the retrial, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Justice of Appeal Dawn Gregory and High Court judge Brassington Reynolds overturned the conviction and 56-year sentence.
In apologizing to the daughter of the deceased, whom he called Debra and who was present in court, a sobbing Alexander said, “I am very sorry, really sorry for what took place between me and your father.”
Reports suggest that the two men grew up together and eventually lived together during their adult life.
According to information, on the day in question Alexander fatally stabbed Thomas, 55, during an argument over a pile of missing clothes. The incident occurred at John Street, Lodge, Georgetown where both of them had lived.
Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes during a plea in mitigation on behalf of Alexander told the court that his client and Thomas were childhood friends. According to Hughes, the men grew up under difficult economic circumstances which only got worst as they progressed in age.
The lawyer added that his client is very remorseful and had informed him that not a day goes by that he does not think about what he did. Hughes said, “(Alexander) has been incarcerated for eight years and has never caused law enforcement any problems.”
Appearing for the prosecution was State Counsel Abigail Gibbs and State Counsel Tariq Mohamed who asked that the sentence of the court reflect the gravity and serious nature of the offence.
Accordingly, Justice Singh imposed the jail term and said that the prison authorities will be ordered to deduct whatever time Alexander spent in pre-trial custody.
Before he left the courtroom, Justice Singh advised Alexander to make the best of what is left of his life.

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