Seyon Kemo James, a 29-year-old carpenter known as “Lil Alfey,” has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the 2021 murder of taxi driver Kenrick Trim. The sentencing took place in the Demerara High Court under Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh.
James pleaded guilty to the capital offense, admitting to his presence and participation in the events surrounding Trim’s murder, although he maintained that he did not inflict the fatal wounds.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Singh outlined a structured approach to determining the penalty. The court began with a starting point of 40 years’ imprisonment, reflecting the violent nature of the crime, which involved robbery and the disposal of the victim’s body.
From the initial sentence, several deductions were made:
13⅓ years were subtracted for James’s early guilty plea, which spared the victim’s family from the distress of a full trial.
An additional four years were deducted based on positive probation and welfare reports, which portrayed James as a compliant inmate involved in rehabilitation programs.
A further three and two-thirds years were removed for genuine remorse shown by James, who acknowledged the gravity of the crime.
However, aggravating factors necessitated additional penalties. Justice Singh added:
Two years for James’s participation in the crime, as he was present during the attack and fled the scene alongside the principal offender.
Three additional years were imposed based on victim impact statements from Trim’s family, detailing the profound emotional and financial hardships they have faced since his death.
The final sentence totaled 20 years, with time already spent in custody to be deducted.
Kenrick Trim, a 53-year-old from Belfield Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, was found dead on June 31, 2021. He had been choked, stabbed multiple times, and robbed. The loss of the family’s sole breadwinner forced one child to leave school, while a granddaughter had to transfer from private to public education. Trim’s widow began selling food from home to make ends meet.
James’s co-accused, Kenty Bacchus, 38, was sentenced to 30 years in prison just one day prior for his role in the murder, which was also characterized by its brutality. Bacchus has a history of narcotics-related convictions and had previously served time and faced fines.
Both men will be credited for the time they have already spent on remand as the investigation continues.
