Teenager jailed for 25 years over killing

Tue, Jun 28th 2016, 01:10 PM

A TEEN was handed a 25-year prison sentence yesterday because a Supreme Court judge believed his tragic childhood influenced his conduct and subsequent involvement in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old boy.

The 17 year old and 24-year-old Deangelo Johnson appeared before Justice Gregory Hilton facing 30 to 60 years at the Department of Correctional Services stemming from the March 8, 2014. killing of James Farrington.

Farrington was attacked as he rode his bicycle on Milton Street on the night in question.

Johnson, the teen and two others, had been spotted pursuing Farrington with Johnson, armed with a handgun, firing in his direction. Farrington was shot multiple times.

The prosecution did not seek the death penalty in this matter when the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts last October.

In giving his ruling on sentencing, Justice Hilton said he was aware of the Court of Appeal’s decision of Larry Raymond Jones that provided the 30-60 year sentencing range for cases that did not warrant the death penalty. The court also said it was aware of Section 291(4) of the Penal Code, Chapter 84 which notes the court’s discretion to impose any sentence it saw fit on a minor – someone under 18 – who was convicted of murder if there were extenuating circumstances.

“There are extenuating circumstances,” the judge said yesterday referring to the teen convict.

“He was only 15 at the time of the offence and was in the ninth grade, rendering him unable to comprehend the full extent of his actions,” Justice Hilton noted.

The judge, referring to a probation report produced for the court’s consideration, noted that the teen “experienced a dramatic upbringing with the death of his father at eight and the death of his grandmother a year later.”

“He’s had no meaningful relationship with his mother who was a drugs abuser and he had a predisposition to negative peer pressure as his need to belong succumbed to appreciation for right and wrong,” the court also noted.

Justice Hilton said that a sentence of 25 years in prison was sufficient to balance the circumstances of the convict with the offence to express society’s abhorrence for such crimes.

As for Johnson, Justice Hilton acknowledged that his probation report noted he had no prior run-ins with the law but used marijuana.

Though Johnson did not complete high school due to expulsion in the 12th grade, he obtained work as a plumber’s helper up until the time of his detention in connection with the murder.

His family believes in his innocence and stressed that he had no involvement in the murder of someone he called a friend.

Justice Hilton said it could not be ignored that a firearm was used in the commission of the offence and that the killing was done in a public street in the vicinity of the victim’s home.

The judge also noted a lack of remorse for the killing.

Johnson was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for his part in the incident.

The sentences of Johnson and the teen were reduced by two years and three months spent on remand awaiting trial.

Johnson and the teen, who maintain they had no involvement in the murder, have a right to appeal the conviction and sentences to the Court of Appeal.

They were represented by Glendon Rolle and Ian Cargill.

Raquel Whymms prosecuted the case.

By Lamech Johnson, Tribune Staff Reporter

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