Determined to discourage people from using violence to settle disputes, Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell on Friday imposed a 42-year prison term on convicted murderer Shakira Blackman for the stabbing death of 27-year-old Shanice Miller in The City.
After deductions, Shakira Blackman of Park Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, is left having to serve 38 years and 305 days for murdering Miller, formerly of Kensington New Road, on November 28, 2021.
The judge said: “I am of the view that, due to the calculated, cold way in which you carried out this murder unprovoked, clearly not in self-defence, that a long term of imprisonment is required. You expressed in your WhatsApp messages a clear intention to kill the deceased, and you succeeded in your intent. This was a clear act of revenge by you for a perceived wrong.”
During the trial, the court heard that the two women had an acrimonious relationship and had several altercations, including a fight on Roebuck Street in 2019, during which the convicted woman was beaten badly, a quarrel at a fast-food restaurant and another exchange of words on the day before the incident, where Blackman said Miller threatened to beat her again.
On November 27, 2021, Blackman armed herself with a knife and left home to go to a hair appointment. The evidence showed that she sent several WhatsApp messages to friends that morning, one of which said: ‘I want nuff complain(t)s so when I kill her, I gine only get remand time’, and another: ‘Smh somebody gine harm she bad. She will lose her life ya. idk why she don’t stop dat but I want nuff complain(t)s. When I do what I want do I gine just get remand time.’
Blackman called a taxi to take her into town and when it turned onto James Street, the driver waved at a woman walking along the road, who happened to be Miller. The driver asked Blackman if this was the person she was meeting, and the now convicted woman said ‘yes’.
CCTV footage showed that Blackman emerged from the taxi and immediately began to stab Miller, who was standing at the back of the vehicle. Blackman fell to the ground but continued stabbing at the deceased. Miller escaped and ran back towards Central police station with Blackman in pursuit. Video showed her running back onto James Street, trying to re-enter the taxi, but after the driver prevented this, she escaped through Synagogue Lane.
Miller collapsed at the entrance of the police station, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and died the following day.
Justice Smith-Bovell said: “The offence of murder is a serious one, and all murders share an inescapable common factor, which is the criminal taking of a human life. However, all murders are not alike, and the nature and culpability of the murder vary, and this is reflected in the length of the sentence imposed by the court. The greater the culpability, the greater the sentence.”
The judge insisted that Blackman’s culpability was high, noting her use of a knife, the infliction of seven stab wounds to the victim, one of which punctured her lung, the suffering endured by the deceased who tried to escape and was chased by Blackman; the fact that the offence was done in the heart of the City in full view of the public, placing others at risk; that the attack that morning was unprovoked; and the premeditation of the offence were all considered aggravating, along with the impact of Miller’s death on her family.
The judge continued: “I am not sure that this is what they speak about when they speak about fate. The way that this entire event unfolded was done in a way as to make it appear as if this was to happen. Had you not returned home to collect hair that morning, your path and that of the deceased would probably not have crossed. And I think it is most unfortunate that the taxi driver happened to know the deceased and waved at her, which drew your attention to the deceased as she walked the road. It gave you the opportunity to make the taxi driver stop for you to be able to carry out your act. What was required on that morning was self-restraint, which you failed to carry out.”
Noting her positive pre-sentence report and her being deemed at a low-risk of reoffending, her remorse and her lack of related convictions, as Blackman only has one prior for possession of cannabis, Justice Smith-Bovell deducted one year from the 42-year starting point, and credited her for the 790 days spent on remand.
Addressing the No.4 Supreme Court earlier, Blackman stated: “I want to say sorry to the deceased’s family and to the court and to my family…. I want to tell everybody, I sorry.”
Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim and defence counsel Martie Garnes represented Blackman, while Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC and State Counsels Maya Kellman and Paul Prescod prosecuted the case.
(JB)
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