Anthony Jones who in August admitted stabbing Nyron Vyphuis in the heart after the young man intervened to bring peace between Jones and Jones’ wife has appealed the life sentence he was handed.
Jones, 41, called ‘Pastry Man,’ had initially been indicted for murder, but later threw himself at the mercy of the Court, pleading to the lesser offence of manslaughter—admitting that on October 13th, 2018—he had unlawfully killed the 20-year-old.
In an appeal he has lodged with the Guyana Court of Appeal, however, Jones is contending that the sentence of life imposed upon him is not only “excessive,” but also “not in keeping with the principles applicable to an appropriate sentence.”
His appeal will be given a date for hearing.
Stabroek News had previously reported that Jones was quarrelling with his common-law wife on the day in question, and was about to hit her when Vyphuis intervened to stop him. An argument ensued and he dealt him the fatal stab to his heart.
“Peacemakers are to be protected and cannot be made to pay the price for bringing peace,” Justice Sandil Kissoon had told Jones when he sentenced him.
Recalling the facts of the case, the judge had underscored the premeditated nature of the attack unleashed on the young man, whose only aim he said on that fateful day, was to bring peace.
The court had heard from State Counsel Lisa Cave that even though someone had managed to disarm an irate Jones of an axe he initially had in his possession, he left the scene and returned moments later with a knife.
Justice Kissoon said that clearly with a “murderous intent,” it is that knife with which Jones lunged towards Vyphuis, plunging it into his chest and piercing his heart, causing the young man’s death.
The judge said that the mitigating factors which had been submitted in writing on behalf of the offender by his attorney, were far outweighed by the aggravating factors; declaring that in the circumstances, only a life sentence would suffice with 20 years to be served before being eligible for parole.
