A man was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment yesterday for the manslaughter conviction he received three months ago in Supreme Court.  Kevano Musgrove, 26, of Halsmere Road, Highbury Park, appeared before Justice Indra Charles yesterday to learn how many years in prison he would serve for the February 25, 2010 shooting death of David Bowleg Jr.

Justice Charles, who prepared a written ruling, said that while the convict had “committed an extremely grave offence”, a sentence of 18 years was deemed appropriate considering the facts and circumstances surrounding the case.  According to an alleged confession statement presented by the prosecution during the trial, Musgrove admitted to shooting Bowleg, because he believed the deceased had put a bounty on his head.

Musgrove reportedly said he’d watched the deceased pull up in the driveway of his Highbury Park home and enter the house through an unlocked door.  Having a gun on hand while waiting in a hallway, he shot Bowleg Jr in the shoulder before binding him with tape and dragging him back to the Honda Accord he had arrived in.

After driving to Holiday Drive, Musgrove allegedly shot Bowleg again before calling someone to pick him up.  Justice Charles took into account the mitigation plea of defence attorney Murrio Ducille, who argued that his client was 24 at the time and was intruded upon in his home.  Had this not happened, the attorney said, his client would not be here.

The judge also noted the probation report, along with the Mr Bowleg Sr’s plea for justice to help him cope with the loss of his son.  “I will also order counselling for Mr Musgrove whilst serving his sentence; such counselling to be determined by a psychologist and on such terms and conditions that he/she sees fit,” the justice said.  “A concern was raised by one of Mr Musgrove’s attorneys that he is experiencing considerable hardship in the cell in which he is currently housed.”

It is claimed he is being attacked on almost a daily basis.

“If that is so, then I will urge the Superintendent of Her Majesty’s Prisons to remove Mr Musgrove from the present cell and place him in another cell for his personal safety,” the judge concluded.