By Latrishka Thomas/
DAILY OBSERVER: The judge who sentenced a teenager to three years in prison for murdering a Syrian businessman has issued stark warnings about youth violence in his written ruling, describing the convicted minor as “a disaster waiting to happen”.
The defendant, who was 16 when he fatally shot the 25-year-old Syrian national during a daylight robbery, received the maximum sentence allowed for a minor. He was already on bail for gun charges when he committed the murder.
In his written judgement, Justice Tunde Bakre expressed deep concern about what he called “the sudden surge in the wave of violent crime being perpetrated by these children” when he sentenced the 18-year-old for the May 2023 killing.
“I am not unaware of the potential danger being unleashed on the society of Antigua and Barbuda with this light sentence passed on this convict,” Justice Bakre stated.
The judge noted that while the law defines such offenders as children, “their acts and deeds are not anywhere near that of a child. They have become a menace to the entire society and something urgently has to be done.”
He emphasized the severity of the situation, stating: “The main essence of government is to protect the citizens and there must be more concerted effort at doing this to rid the society of this impending danger by supporting the youths to make their life more meaningful.”
Justice Bakre called for urgent collaborative government action by the three organs of government – the legislators, the executive and the judiciary – “to immediately nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand”.
The judge’s concerns about the specific defendant were particularly pointed.
Bakre said, “Unless something drastic is done to keep this particular convict in check, he can best be described as a disaster waiting to happen. This young boy does not strike me as a person that has learnt any lesson despite the fact that a life was lost.”
The written ruling reveals troubling details from a Social Inquiry (SI) report. The report described the defendant as “totally unremorseful and indifferent to the situation he has found himself” and noted he was “described as badly behaved and untrustworthy by members of the community”.
According to the SI, the defendant lost his mother at age six and “has really turned to be a menace to the community”. The report blamed his father for not properly caring for the defendant and his 12 siblings, while community members also criticized his grandmother for indulging him despite negative reports.
The court also noted: “Blames were traded between the father and his grandmother on who actually was at fault between them on the way the defendant has turned out; the defendant has totally become a menace to the entire society.”
On the other hand, the victim impact report highlighted the devastating effect on the deceased’s family. The Syrian businessman was described as the breadwinner supporting his family, including a brother who was a medical student. The victim was about to marry his fiancée, whose mental health was severely affected by his death, requiring treatment at a mental facility in Syria.
Justice Bakre concluded with advice to the family: “It is advised that the family members should make every effort to rehabilitate him before the whole issues becomes too late.”
The judge in the end gave the accused the maximum sentence for a minor and ruled that the 550 days that the defendant spent on remand will be deducted from his sentence. Upon release, he faces strict conditions including twice-weekly police station sign-ins and a 7pm to 7am curfew for one year.
His co-accused, who is in his 20s, is still awaiting arraignment in connection with the case.
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It’s up to the AG and government to change the laws IMMEDIATELY….
He should’ve been charge as an ADULT
YOU ALL DNT SEE ITS GETTING WOSRT and vigilante should be on the rise too…
The bible say an eye 4 eye a toooth4 a rooth
This young boy needs to be away for a long long time.
There can be little doubt that we now have a crisis of youth violence and it is time to sound the alarm bell. There is an urgent need for change, for empowerment and for a renewed sense of purpose among our young people which will lead to their making conscious choices with positive outcomes. Although this problem is not confined to Antigua and Barbuda alone, the numbers in this country are alarmingly high. Maybe as a region, Antigua and Barbuda should take the lead in hosting and promoting a forum of positive youth development. We are at crunch time and cannot afford to wait.
Mr. PM PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SIR CHANGE THAT LAW SIR ..THAT IS FOR MINOR OFFENCES..SHOW THEIR FACES TOO. STOP THIS STUPIDNESS THAT THEY ARE UNDER AGE. THESE ARE THE WORSE KIND OF KILLERS. THEY DON’T HAVE REGRETS NO REMORSE . The reason y they are doing the KILLINGS IS BC you all won’t show their faces.nor give them full sentences. .
Crime, criminality grows, spread and propagates like trees and cultures, that are rhizome in nature; however, they have to be rhizomed to control, support, compression of diseases, ailments which are NEGATIVELY affecting parts of the tree or culture.
It’s not by surprise, that aspects of the Antigua Kulcha has reached these stages being described by the Judge. Judge, less you forget, there are many others who are shouting, preaching, teaching what you’re alluding to, and have being doing so for generations.
Any which was, #de_Fungee cut, roll, ball, as lang as, e nar lumpy well tun and bang gud wid shad, red herring, mackerel, #greens_mixup (me no lub de wud “CHOP_UP,” ‘cause, me nar kill nutten!), as lang as ebbrie ting #irie.
Translated…it doesn’t matter where the conversation on crime/criminality is coming from, as long as it current, pertinent, void of hypocrisy, then it must be entertained.
The present culture of crime growing by leaps and bounds is just like a rhizome plant. It if planted in fertile, nutritious and welcoming soil with little to no resistance or competition, it’s going to thrive and grow faster than under less favourable conditions.
The conditions in Antigua from poverty, systemic and open CLASSISM, covert and clandestine RACISM for decades have without question provided, prepared the fertile ground for crime and criminality to grow, propagate and produce succulent fruits.
#IT_TAKES_A_VILLAGE
#CRIMINALITY_IS_DEEP-ROOTED
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏾Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
Shouldn’t tho a charges been trumped up? Aggravated murder for which he got three years.And to top it off it will be reduced for the time served while on remand.So what about the other charges,possession of an unlicensed firearm,possession of ammunition, and aggravated robbery.In some countries just the possession of an unlicensed firearm could get one 25 years.
Please someone help me understand the logic around thus mess.
He should also face trial for the other offenses he has committed. The sentences should run consecutively.
Our modern era is characterized by difficult and challenging times, as described in scripture as “PERILOUS TIMES”. This period is marked by a deep moral decline in humanity, where virtue is often viewed as evil and vice versa. There is a noticeable absence of selfless love, replaced by widespread greed and an ungrateful, disrespectful attitude. This has led to a society full of pride and duplicity, where people present a false sense of righteousness.
This decline is not expected to improve but will likely escalate, leading to increased chaos and violence. A vast majority of humanity has embraced these destructive values, a reality that is consistently reflected in current events and public behavior, such as that seen at carnival festivals.
This behavior, characterized by rudeness, vulgarity, and excessive revelry, is not a harmless act. The belief that one can engage in such conduct and then return to a state of grace is a misconception. This widespread deception has caused humanity to reject the principles of righteousness, which are essential for achieving peace and goodness. We are now experiencing the consequences of our actions.
For a society to find peace, there must be a collective awakening to reality and a commitment to a better path… the NARROW WAY! This requires embracing difficult truths that demand discipline, a fundamental change in lifestyle, adherence to moral principles, and personal sacrifice. Many avoid this path because it requires effort, preferring to follow the path of least resistance. The easy path: the Wide road to destruction. Oh how sad that the majority will forever continue along this path despite experiencing all the negative consequences.
We tend to blame younger generations for the state of society, but it is the adults who have created the conditions that have led to this moral decay. Furthermore, governmental and commercial interests often prioritize financial gain over moral well-being, viewing events like carnival simply as a source of revenue, which further exacerbates the problem. The more provocative the behavior, the more money is generated. Look at the dressing ( or rather the lack of it) at the carnival activities. The shows’ promoters can tell you that it is all about the $$$. Then again it is what the people want…what they crave for…lusting of the flesh. The nudity…drug use…revlry…. nudeness and vulgarity ….music….tiktok: The worldly pleasures. The lust of the flesh…the pride of life….VANITY….VANITIES!
WOE BE UNTO THIS GENERATION
This path of moral decay is coming to an end. History has shown that similar periods of rampant worldly pleasure, like those in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah and Noah, preceded a major reckoning. This time of decision is once again upon us. While the majority will continue to follow this path of evil , a smaller number will choose to stand for truth and righteousness.
This message is a call for attention and reflection. It urges anyone who reads it to take heed.
Why gain the world and lose your soul?
Who will answer the call?
Who will turn to the truth?
WORLD “CRYSIS”: END SOON COME!
Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!
The comments of the judge are hypocritical if he knows better and insulting if he is ignorant of the law.
For those who believe that the maximun sentence that the judge could have imposed is thre years, you are wrong and being mislead.
The judge owes it to the nation to familiarize himself with the laws and treat everything accordingly.
I will not bore any of the readers.
I ask those who know how the laws are written to go to the Child Jistice Act NO. 23 of 2015.
I ask you to refer to sections 54, 55 and 72.
On reading those sections you will be convinced that the trial judge erred in sentencing.
According to the law the judge could have imposed any sentence other than a death penalty, a maximun sentence or flogging.
If this is interpreted correctly it tell you that a sentence of 10, 15, 20 or 25 years could have been imposed.
So when the judge failed the society he should not blame the law makers.
The law is there to deal with the youth.
I hope the DPP will act swiftly and appeal the sentence.
Antigua has the most dumb judiciary system, the governments, the police, everything all retarded. How do you sentence this guy for 3 years, knowing that it’s not enough, knowing that he will do something bad again if he’s out, then publicly speak on it saying that he’s a menace to society and he’s a disaster waiting to happen— but still gave him 3 years, Dumb— you also knew that him and the other one were involved in sending that 16 year old boy to a comatose but you let those same two go and kept Darryl Goodwin or whatever his name is— Darryl’s dad is an officer, so Darryl claimed that he was psycho and the sentence was shortened, he got less time than this guy that killed Rowdy, the Syrian man— Plus, Rowdy was killed 1 year after his same killer and accomplices, sent that 16 year old to a Coma— the System in Antigua is literally retarded— the people of Antigua will in time turn against you and may probably kill one of you, officials or your family member— You may not feel it for the citizens nor their family’s until it happens to your own, only then is when you will decide to act a bit more seriously towards the situations— y’all pardoned youths that brutally killed those girls and placed them on herb farm, some stole from those herb farms while there— they did wrong and you rewarded them with what they liked, y’all don’t even book them up and fine them the same thousands of dollars y’all said you’ll fine whenever they are found smoking in public, the same wannabe badman youths still walk around the place with the spliff in the mouth with the pants all the way down, it is you guys who will allow them to grow within the way that they are now living.
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