Kaprese Nobrega, 22, and Shay Carter, 30, were yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2020 murder of Kevin Campbell.
They were sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara who said that they will be eligible for parole after serving 40 years.
The defendants were represented by attorney Ronald Bostwick who stated that at the time of the incident Nobrega was 18 years old and had no misdemeanours on file and that he was remorseful for the life lost. Bostwick urged the court to hand down a sentence that would permit him to emerge in due course as a productive member of society.
He noted that Carter is an ex member of the Guyana Defence Force which was used against him in the trial. He added that probation reports described Carter as a good person and prison service reports recognised him as disciplined and a peacemaker and hoped these factors would be taken into consideration in sentencing.
The court also heard victim impact statements.
The brother of the deceased said that Campbell was a hard worker who helped to aid his family’s financial situation and taught him to swim. He added that his brother’s passing led to their family being placed under stress.
The accused were given the opportunity by the court to speak.
Nobrega declined to say anything while Carter stated that he was innocent and was being wrongfully incarcerated and has a family that needs him.
The prosecutors representing the state: Muntaz Ali and Christopher Belfield urged the court to take into consideration the seriousness of the offence and that a number of weapons were used in the murder of Campbell. They noted that the accused were close to the family and showed no remorse for the family’s loss. Counsel said that the court owes a duty to the citizens of Guyana to institute a suitable punishment to send a strong message of abhorrence of this crime. They asked for the accused to be sentenced to the maximum number of years the court deems fit.
The two were found guilty on November 8, 2024
The murder occurred on March 21, 2020 in `B’ Field, Sophia after Nobrega was involved in an altercation with Brandon Smith, the brother of the deceased at Smith’s home, during which he allegedly stabbed Smith twice. Nobrega then left the premises but return-ed shortly afterward with a group of men, including Carter, to search for Smith. Unable to find him, they encountered his brother, Campbell and murdered him.
