Ex-con handed 30-year jail term for “premeditated” killing

Twenty-five-year-old Timothy McKenzie of Kitty, Georgetown, who previously had served time in jail for simple larceny and unlawful and malicious wounding, has now been sentenced to 30 years in prison for manslaughter.
Indicted for the June 4, 2018 murder of 21-year-old Richard Noel, called “Nippo”, a father of one, McKenzie had last month been found guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter by a jury in Justice Sandil Kissoon’s court.
McKenzie was represented by two defence counsels: Ronald Daniels and Kiswana Jefford, while State Counsel Muntaz Ali had presented the case for the prosecution.
Police reports indicated that the killing had reportedly stemmed from an old grievance between the two men, allegedly involving the sister of Noel, whom McKenzie had reportedly hit, and that had resulted in a fight between the two men.
However, on the day in question, the men, who had once been friends and neighbours, had reportedly crossed paths, and McKenzie had been heard asking Noel if he “wanted a problem.” According to what had been reported, Noel had walked away, and an aggravated McKenzie had allegedly gone after him and stabbed him twice in his chest. After Noel had fallen, McKenzie had stomped him on his chest.
Noel had been rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries one day later.
McKenzie, who had been on remand since June 2018, was sentenced on Thursday. In his sentencing remarks, Justice Kissoon told McKenzie that, given his previous convictions, he has pursued a life of violence, and has refused to abide by societal norms and the rule of law. As such, he must be prepared to face the consequences of his actions.
“As an early youth, you were bent on indiscipline and a violation of rules. You pursued a path that led you to criminal convictions,” Justice Kissoon told McKenzie.
According to records from the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters, McKenzie was, in 2014, found guilty of larceny from the person and was sentenced to imprisonment. He was subsequently convicted and jailed for unlawful and malicious wounding.
As McKenzie grew older, the Judge pointed out, the offences he committed increased in severity. Given his misbehaviour, which continued while he was on remand for the killing, Justice Kissoon stressed, the convict had refused to be reformed and to rehabilitate himself. Based on the facts of the case, Justice Kissoon said, Noel’s killing was premeditated.
Alluding to the prevalence and frequency of unlawful killings in “our very small society”, Justice Kissoon said the safety, security, and wellbeing of citizens continue to be at risk; as in the case of Noel, who had been plying his trade as a vendor when he was attacked and stabbed to death.
According to Justice Kissoon, during the trial, a video of McKenzie relentlessly pursuing the victim around the Stabroek Market area was presented. This, he noted, demonstrated the convict’s callous regard for other persons in the usually crowded area. “You fled the scene of the crime after carrying out the dastardly act,” Justice Kissoon reminded McKenzie.
In sentencing McKenzie, the Judge commenced at a starting point of 25 years, to which he added five years for the overwhelming aggravating factors, bringing the final prison term to 30 years. He has also ordered that McKenzie must serve at least 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Justice Kissoon further ordered that the convict be credited for time spent on remand, that he be enrolled in anger management and skills training classes, and that he be subjected to continuous psychological intervention for his delusional disorder diagnosis.