Sophia duo gets life sentence for 2020 murder

A tense and emotionally charged atmosphere engulfed the Demerara High Court on Thursday as Justice Navindra Singh handed down life sentences to Shay Carter and Kaprese Nobrega, two men convicted of the 2020 murder of 24-year-old Kevin Campbell.
The sentencing, which followed a month-long trial and extensive deliberations, was marked by anguish, protests, and deep grief from the families involved.
The courtroom was filled with relatives, legal teams, media personnel, and onlookers, all eager to hear the ruling. As Justice Singh pronounced the sentences, chaos erupted. The convicts’ family members screamed and wailed in protest, some openly declaring their loved ones’ innocence. Law enforcement officers stationed in the courtroom had to intervene to calm the disorder, while the victim’s family remained seated, shedding quiet tears of relief and gratitude for the justice delivered.

The events leading to this high-profile case began on March 21, 2020, with a confrontation at the Campbell family home in Sophia, Greater Georgetown. According to court testimony, Nobrega clashed with Campbell’s brother, Brandon Smith, during an altercation at Smith’s residence. The fight escalated when Nobrega stabbed Smith twice, leaving him injured. Later that night, Nobrega returned to the area with Carter and a group of accomplices, apparently intent on locating Smith. Instead, they encountered his brother, Kevin Campbell.
What followed was described in court as a brutal and calculated attack. Witnesses recounted how Carter forcibly dragged Campbell from the house while Nobrega, armed with a knife, led the assault. Other members of the group reportedly joined in, using firearms, cutlasses, knives, and even a pitchfork to inflict injuries. Campbell was stabbed repeatedly in his chest, face, and legs. Family members and neighbours who witnessed the attack were left horrified, some paralysed with fear.
Despite efforts to save him, Campbell succumbed to his injuries on March 27, 2020, at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Medical reports revealed that his cause of death was Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a result of severe internal injuries and blood loss.

Nobrega, 22, and Carter, 30, faced trial before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury. The prosecution, led by attorney Christopher Belfield and assisted by Mumtaz Ali, presented compelling evidence, including testimony from multiple eyewitnesses and forensic findings. After deliberating, the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict early last month, setting the stage for Thursday’s sentencing.
In preparation for the hearing, the court reviewed probation reports, prison conduct evaluations, and victim impact statements. Defence attorney Ronald Bostwick, representing the convicts, made an impassioned plea for leniency, urging the court to consider the ages and rehabilitative potential of his clients. He highlighted Nobrega’s active participation in educational programmes within the prison system and Carter’s industrious background as a shopkeeper and mechanic. Both men, according to the probation report, had expressed remorse for the loss of life, though their courtroom behaviour suggested otherwise.
During sentencing, Justice Singh outlined the factors influencing his decision. A base term of 30 years was increased by five years for premeditation, seven years for the crime’s exceptional brutality, and three years for the profound impact on the victim’s family, bringing the total to 45 years. However, five years were deducted for their positive probation reports, reducing the parole eligibility to 40 years. The court also mandated that time spent in pre-trial detention be subtracted from their sentences.

As the sentences were announced, Nobrega erupted, shouting profanities at the judge and courtroom attendees. “God got to judge me. F**k all of y’all,” he exclaimed while being led out in handcuffs and shackles. Carter, in contrast, remained calm but maintained his innocence, stating, “I’m innocent and wrongfully incarcerated for something I didn’t do. But Allah knows best.”
State prosecutor Christopher Belfield presented a firm argument for the maximum penalty, emphasising the severity and prevalence of unlawful killings in Guyana. He noted the use of multiple dangerous weapons and criticised the convicts’ lack of genuine remorse, stating, “Their actions robbed not only Kevin Campbell of his life but also his family of their peace and stability.”
The victim’s family, including his siblings and cousins, submitted emotional victim impact statements. They described Campbell as a loving and hardworking individual who was a cornerstone of support for his family. His sudden and violent death left an indelible void, compounded by the subsequent passing of his mother and grandmother, who succumbed to grief in the months following the tragedy.
Campbell’s brother Brandon, who survived the initial altercation, expressed deep guilt and anguish, believing his presence on that fateful night might have altered the outcome. His family members spoke of sleepless nights and the lasting trauma of witnessing Kevin’s brutal killing.
Meanwhile, the families of Nobrega and Carter reacted with disbelief and anger. Some openly questioned the fairness of the trial, while others accused the justice system of bias. Their protests reverberated through the courtroom, with relatives shouting as the convicts were escorted out by guards.
In his sentencing remarks, Justice Singh stressed the importance of delivering a punishment that reflects the court’s condemnation of such heinous acts. “The defendants showed no remorse, and their actions have caused unimaginable pain,” he stated. “This court will not tolerate acts of violence that deprive others of their right to life and rob families of their loved ones.”