Judge hopes for reform for double murder teen convict

Two sentences of life imprisonment were handed down on Wednesday to a Clarendon gangster who committed a double murder at age 16 and who was involved in a million-dollar heist at 17.

Justice Ann-Marie Lawrence-Grainger hopes the confessed killer, Michael Black, who is now 18, can be reformed and be reintegrated into society.

Black will have to serve 20 years and three months for the murders before he becomes eligible for parole. He was also sentenced to nine years and eight months at hard labour for illegal possession of firearm. The sentences will run concurrently.

Black pleaded guilty on February 24 to a seven-count indictment that includes two counts of murder, two counts of illegal possession of firearm, and three counts of robbery with aggravation.

Black, according to the prosecution, killed Akeem ‘Kemo’ Murray and Kamar ‘Kaftan’ Ramatar on November 18, 2020, near the intersection of Race Course and Hayesfield roads in Clarendon.

For those offences, he was sentenced to a combined 49 years and 11 months.

At the age of 17, Black confessed to conspire with other members of the Bloods Gang to carry out a $1.7-million robbery at the Lasco MoneyGram outlet in the town of Chapelton on March 22, 2021.

For those offences, he was given 11-year sentences for the robbery counts and more than eight years for illegal gun possession. Those sentences, too, will run concurrently.

Justice Lawrence-Grainger told the court that aggravating and mitigating factors were considered in arriving at her decision.

“The court hopes it will deter others from committing similar offences,” Justice Lawrence-Grainger said.

The aggravating factors were that only one of the firearms used in the murder was recovered; Black was acting with others; and that the killing appeared to have been planned.

The mitigating factors included Black being a minor; the claim he was coerced to commit the crime; and his having no previous convictions.

A discount of 30 per cent was applied because he pleaded guilty at the first relevant date.

Justice Lawrence-Grainger said Black’s social enquiry report was also favourable.

“This court accepts that he does have the capacity to reform,” she said.

One of the men killed was a member of the Bloods Gang and died as a result of a peace treaty gone bad.

The prosecution said that the threat was supported by the leader of the gang but there was not unanimous support.

When questioned by investigators why he killed the men, Black reportedly said, “Father, mi don’t even understand to explain it … . Killer say, ‘Mek we go pon di road,’ and a so mi get the gun.”

In his caution statement, he said he was trying to exit the Toyota Axio motor car to fire the gun but the door would not open.

Black said the shooter came back in the vehicle and then the door he was trying suddenly opened.

He got out the car and fired two shots, he said.

An eyewitness said the victims received shots to the head. The police recovered 15 spent casings from the scene.

Residents in his community were reportedly surprised to learn of the offences and that Black was associated with negative peers.

They begged the court for leniency.

Following Black’s sentencing, the court was advised that a nolle prosequi had been entered by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to discontinue a separate case of illegal possession of firearm, robbery with aggravation, conspiracy to robbery and illegal possession of ammunition.