Fish vendor jailed 20 years for 2021 killing of taxi driver

Dec 18, 2025 News

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(Kaieteur News) – In a case stemming from a June 2021 robbery, Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh sentenced Seyon James, aka “Lil Alfey,” to 20 years in prison, halving the original 40-year sentence for the killing of a taxi driver.

The sentence was handed down on Wednesday at the Demerara High Court. James, a 30-year-old fish vendor, pleaded guilty on December 4, 2025, along with co-accused Kenty Bacchus, called “Trini,” to the killing of Kendrick Trim.  Bacchus, a 38-year-old welder, was sentenced on Tuesday to 30 years’ imprisonment after Justice Singh ruled that, despite his guilty plea and expressions of remorse, the brutality of the offence, his criminal history, and the impact on the deceased family must carry a heavy sentence.

Trim, a 53-year-old taxi driver of the Belfield Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, was found dead on June 31, 2021. According to police, his body was discovered lying in grass at the end of Cul-de-Sac Street, Block One, Ogle, East Coast Demerara. Investigators said he was dumped from a silver-grey Toyota Premio, bearing registration number HC 5311, which was found parked a short distance away.

During James’ sentencing, Justice Singh explained that although the offence was serious, several mitigating factors justified a lesser sentence than that imposed on Bacchus.  With a starting point of 40 years, James was sentenced to 20 years including time spent already in prison, a lesser sentence after Justice Singh considered several factors including how he was involved in the situation, his belief that he did not inflict any injury to the deceased and favourable probation.

Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of the crime and the loss suffered by the victim’s family. They described Trim as a hardworking taxi driver whose final trip ended in tragedy. “That trip led to a senseless murder at the back of Ogle, and his belongings were taken from him after his death,” the prosecution told the court. They further alleged that James used a sharp knife to inflict multiple injuries on Trim, leaving behind a grieving wife, three children, and a grandchild.

When given the opportunity to address the court, James expressed remorse, saying, “I am sorry for what I did. I give my best condolences to the family.”

In delivering his ruling, Justice Singh stated, “I believe him when he said he didn’t inflict any injury. I believe that Kenty Bacchus garnered support.” In arriving at his final ruling, Justice Singh took several factors into account, reducing the sentence by 13⅔ years for the guilty plea, four years for favourable probation, and 3⅔ years for the defendant’s demonstrated remorse.

However, he added three more years for emotional impact of Trim’s death on his family, and two years for James’ involvement in the crime, arriving at a final sentence of 20 years.

The prosecution team is led by State Counsel Geneva Wills, assisted by State Counsel Christopher Belfield and State Counsel Simran Gajraj. Bacchus is represented by Attorney-at-Law Audreanna Stephens, while James is represented by Attorney Glendon Greenidge.

Earlier in the investigation, James confessed to the police and provided a detailed account of the events leading to Trim’s death. He told investigators that he met Bacchus while previously incarcerated for simple larceny of a cellphone. On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, Bacchus reportedly picked him up from the bus park, and the two went to a snackette on Carmichael Street to buy food.

James told police that he confided in Bacchus about being homeless and in need of a place to stay. After leaving the snackette, Bacchus stopped a taxi driven by Trim, and both men entered the vehicle. Bacchus sat behind the driver, while James sat behind the front passenger seat.

According to James, upon reaching Ogle, Bacchus grabbed Trim by the neck and choked him “until he passed out.” He said Bacchus then dragged the driver into the back seat, where he was stabbed multiple times. James stated that Bacchus removed a gold ring, chain, cash, and a black Samsung cellphone from the victim before driving to another location in Ogle, where Trim’s body was dumped.

James further told police that the car became stuck in mud while Bacchus attempted to reverse, forcing them to abandon the vehicle. Bacchus reportedly gave him $10,000 and discarded the knife in nearby bushes. The two men then crossed a bridge, walked to the public road, and later took a minibus to Georgetown. Police said efforts were ongoing at the time to recover the murder weapon.

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• fish vendor, Kendrick Trim, killing, Seyon James, taxi driver

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