“Concrete man” admits to killing Linden teacher 

Labourer Shaka Phillips, known as “Concrete Man”, pleaded guilty on Monday to murdering teacher Jenel Pollydore, who was shot dead during a wedding reception in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) in 2025.

Phillips, 22, appeared before Justice Priscilla Chandra-Hanif at the Demerara High Court. He is expected to return on September 30 for sentencing.
Ahead of the sentencing hearing, Justice Chandra-Hanif ordered the preparation and submission of several reports to assist the court in determining an appropriate sentence.
These include a psychiatric evaluation, a report on Phillips’ conduct while in prison, a probation report, and assessments outlining the aggravating and mitigating factors in the case.
Phillips, formerly of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, is on remand at a penitentiary pending the hearing.
Pollydore, 26, a mother of three from Lower Kara Kara, Linden, was killed on July 19, 2025, while attending a wedding reception at the R&R Hotel in Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden.
According to reports, Phillips, who is the father of Pollydore’s youngest child, approached her during the reception after confronting her about allegedly not answering his telephone calls.
The encounter reportedly escalated into an argument, during which Phillips allegedly pulled a handgun and shot Pollydore.
Police said Pollydore ran towards the hotel’s pool area in an attempt to escape, but Phillips followed her and fired two more shots.
He then reportedly fled the area.
When Police arrived at the hotel, they found Pollydore motionless near the pool.
She had sustained gunshot wounds to the right side of her face and the back of her head.
Two spent 9mm shells were recovered from the scene as investigators processed the area.
Pollydore was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where medical personnel pronounced her dead on arrival.
Phillips was arrested the following day and subsequently charged with murder.
Before the matter reached the High Court, Phillips appeared before Magistrate Rondel Weever at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, where the indictable murder charge was read to him.
He was not required to plead to the charge and was remanded to prison.
Police subsequently disclosed that Pollydore had ended her relationship with Phillips and had previously obtained a restraining order against him following alleged incidents of domestic abuse.
Despite a restraining order and ongoing complaints, Phillips reportedly continued to stalk Pollydore, showing up at her workplace, home, and other locations.