Recaptured Lusignan prison escapee jailed for 20 years

Thirty-eight-year-old Kendell Skeete of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD) — an escapee from the Lusignan holding area following the Camp Street unrest, who was eventually recaptured in Linden — was on Friday jailed for 20 years by Justice James Bovell-Drakes presiding in the High Court in Georgetown.

Skeete, who had been on remand for manslaughter when he staged his escape, recently pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the murder of Kenneth Allen, 27, who was killed in October of 2008. The father of two was killed when he attempted to assist a man who was being robbed by a group of men. As a result of his intervention, Allen sustained several stab wounds about his chest. He was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he succumbed to the injuries. Following the robbery, a wanted bulletin was issued by Police for Skeete, who was identified as one of the men involved in the robbery. He was captured in May of 2015 after being on the run for a number of years.
Skeete was originally sentenced to spend 60 years in prison after his initial plea of not guilty. However, Justice Bovell-Drakes deducted 27 years, the age of Allen when he was killed, and another 13 years after Skeete changed his not guilty plea.
Attorneys-at-Law Mandel Moore and Orinthia Schmidt delivered to the court a probation report in favour of Skeete