Life in prison for ex-soldier after savage murder of wife

Michael London, a 44-year-old former member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after serving 18 years, for the brutal murder of his common-law wife Shaneka Elliot, in a horrific act of domestic violence that stunned the Linden community in 2017.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Simone Morris at the High Court, following London’s earlier guilty plea to the capital offence of murder.
The case stemmed from a vicious attack that occurred on May 19, 2017, when London stabbed 38-year-old Elliot approximately 15 times at their Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden residence, as she was reportedly preparing to leave what relatives described as a longstanding abusive relationship.

Severely injured, Elliot was rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital Complex, but was pronounced dead on arrival. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that her death was due to multiple incised wounds.
The case was further aggravated by the presence of at least one child at, or shortly after, the moment of the attack, adding to the trauma and shock felt by the family and the wider community.
London’s fleeing the scene following the brutal killing had sparked an intensive manhunt. By the end of the day, police had tracked him to a jungle area in Moblissa, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. During his arrest, London had reportedly attacked the officers, forcing them to open fire on him. He was shot in the leg before being subdued and taken into custody.
During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, State Prosecutors Marissa Edwards, Muntaz Ali and Darin Chan presented several pieces of evidence and testimony aimed at highlighting the gravity of London’s actions. This included a psychiatric report from Dr. Meenawattie Rajkumar and a probation report compiled by Ms. Gillis and presented by Probation Officer Mahesha Granville.
The court heard that while London’s behaviour in prison was generally reported as favourable, he had been involved in two physical altercations. However, prison officials could not recall the specific circumstances of the fights, and as such, no negative inference was drawn.

The most emotional moments of the hearing came when June Allicock, the mother of the deceased, and Akelo Elliot, her brother, each delivered powerful victim Impact Statements to the court. Both recounted the pain and lasting trauma caused by Elliot’s death, emphasizing the void left in the lives of her children and family members.
According to the mother of the deceased, her family is still mourning, her death is not easy to live with, and she needs justice for her daughter.
And according to her brother Akelo, he has had to adopt his niece, and he’s afraid that if London comes out, he’ll want to come for his daughter (the niece).
London himself addressed the court, expressing remorse for his actions while begging the judge for mercy and leniency. Defence Counsel Clevaun Humphrey submitted a plea in mitigation, citing his client’s lack of prior convictions, a generally positive character reference from his community, and a psychiatric evaluation suggesting prospects for rehabilitation.
Nevertheless, Justice Morris found that the aggravating factors significantly outweighed any mitigating circumstances. These included the savage nature of the attack, the use of a deadly weapon, the breach of trust within a domestic setting, the historical pattern of domestic abuse, the presence of a child at the crime scene, and the societal need for strong judicial deterrence against such offences.
The court determined that a life sentence was appropriate, with a starting point of 27 years before parole eligibility. However, a one-third reduction was granted for London’s early guilty plea, amounting to nine years. Further consideration of his remorse, lack of previous convictions, and positive reports resulted in an additional one-year reduction. An upward adjustment of one year was also made due to the aggravating presence of a child during the attack.
Ultimately, Justice Morris ordered that London serve a minimum of 18 years before being eligible for parole. She also mandated his participation in anger management and family reconciliation programmes while incarcerated. The time already served on remand, which is eight years, would be deducted from his sentence as required by law.