Two days shy of the fourth death anniversary of Mocha mechanic Terrence Lanferman, the man convicted for his murder was today sentenced to 75 years behind bars.
Following the submission of a probation report to the court, Justice Navindra Singh imposed the sentence upon Kenkassie Lynch, whom he said clearly premeditated and lay in wait to kill Lanferman.
“This was a premeditated crime. You staked out and waited on the opportune time to kill this man,” the judge noted.
Justice Singh also told the convict that it was quite unfortunate that he had killed a man he did not even know and with whom he had no problem.
According to a caution statement tendered and admitted into the evidence at trial, Lynch told police investigators that he had carried out the act for a man popularly known in the Mocha area as ‘Birdman,’ who had a grievance against the deceased.
The defence contended, however, that Lynch had never made that statement to police.
The judge handed down the sentence of 75 years to an expressionless Lynch, who in a very brief statement to the court maintained his innocence. “I am innocent of this charge, sir,” the 25-year-old man said in a barely audible tone.
Lynch had been found guilty of murder by a jury on May 9th and his sentencing was deferred to facilitate a probation report that was requested by his attorney.
Quizzed on a particular aspect of the probation report, which was not read to the court, the Probation and Social Services officer, who prepared it, refuted suggestions from defence attorney Adrian Thompson that the convict never apologised for committing the crime.
In the report, the officer had indicated that in her interview with Lynch he not only admitted to being the one who killed Lanferman but also apologised for it.
Asked by Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs whether she or anyone else had forced the convict to make “that admission,” the probation officer responded in the negative, while noting that Lynch, in tears, freely admitted to the crime and said he was sorry.
Thompson contended, however, that at no time were those words uttered by his client, even as probation officer remained resolute that he did.
In a plea of mitigation, Thompson nonetheless begged the court’s mercy.
For her part, however, Gibbs asked that the sentence be reflective of the nature and gravity of the offence.
Referencing the specific aspect of the probation report on Lynch’s attitude towards the offence, the prosecutor also asked the judge to consider “that he had said he felt compelled to apologise to the deceased family but did not have the courage or strength to do so, since he too can relate to the pain they feel.”
Justice Singh commenced the sentence at a base of 60 years, to which he added 10 years for premeditation and another five years for the use of a gun. The judge, however, ordered that deductions be made by prison authorities for the time Lynch would have spent in prison awaiting trial.
Mother of the deceased, Eunice Lanferman, had to be consoled by relatives after being visibly overcome by emotions as she sobbed uncontrollably following the sentencing.
Lanferman, who was 23 years old at the time of his death, was shot and killed on the night of June 1st, 2015 at his Lot 37 Nelson Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara home.
In her testimony during the trial, Eunice had told the court that her son had an issue with ‘Birdman.’ The witness had also told the court that she was aware that ‘Birdman’ was at one point charged with her son’s murder.
