It is his first criminal offence, and 19-year-old Akeem Thurton of Belize City was given every benefit of the doubt by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin before being sentenced to serve a 15-year term of imprisonment on a charge of attempted murder today.
Thurton was convicted on March 15 at the conclusion of Belize’s first criminal trial held without a jury.
Senior Counsel Rodwell Williams, 54, was shot once in the abdomen as he was walking toward the parking lot across from the former offices of Barrow and Williams, his law firm partnership with Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, at #99 Albert Street around 8 in the evening on May 31, 2010.
Thurton was charged along with the late Ricky Valencia, 28, who was killed on February 22 during a postponement of the trial granted by the Chief Justice after he gave time to Thurton to attempt to find legal representation, which he was unable to do.
At the trial, Williams testified that he and the security guard were approached by two men on bicycles who stopped 12 feet away from them. One of them, allegedly Valencia, threw down his bike and began to confront the guard, while Thurton was said to have pulled out a gun, aimed it at Williams and told him, without specifying to whom he was referring, to give the person “what he wanted.” Williams said he was shot after he told him he did not have what they wanted.
The prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, also relied on a caution statement admitted as evidence in which Thurton told police that Valencia had previously told him that he was on a “mission” to attack “an attorney.” He said that he was only following orders, and that it was Valencia, after they lay in wait for about an hour outside the office, who shot Williams, while he, Thurton, searched the guard.
Thurton claimed in court that he was “forced” to give that statement, but it was nonetheless admitted.
Dr. Jose Munguia, who performed five surgeries on Williams as he fought for his life, testified that the extensive injuries Williams received as a result of the shooting were life-threatening and could have been fatal if there was a delay in treatment.
Thurton consistently maintained his innocence during the trial, and at today’s sentencing he told the Chief Justice, “My Lord, they are chancing me. I am not happy with this, my Lord.”
The social inquiry report ordered by Chief Justice Benjamin said that Thurton, a son of footballer Norman “Tilliman”, Pipersburgh, was himself an accomplished footballer and was never in trouble with the law prior to May 31, 2010. He is a fisherman by trade and left primary school early, resulting in literacy similar to a child between the ages of seven and nine.
Williams told the social report’s writer that the extent of his injuries suffered that night left him forced to re-learn the basics of living, such as eating and walking, and that he was now “an eggshell,” vulnerable to the slightest illness, including potentially developing a kidney disease.
For his personal security, he has had to hire a bodyguard since he has been receiving additional death threats, and his wife was unable to talk to the interviewer as she tried to recall the incident and its aftermath.
The Chief Justice noted that while Thurton had good character references and no previous convictions, the circumstances of the case did not speak well of him. The fact that Williams was “laywaited” by Thurton and allegedly Valencia, suggested premeditation and intent to harm, if not kill; it was “a planned exercise that resulted in very serious injuries to (Rodwell) Williams…”
“Everyone in Belize City knows that whatever sentence we issue, that it’s a message sent out there because we do not like the gang violence which we are subjected to,” the C.J. also commented.
But he pointed out as well that motive for the incident, such as “murder for hire” or robbery, was never established, and that there was no evidence of a previous disagreement between the victim and the convict.
Taken all together, the maximum penalty of life in prison was not necessary, said the C.J., and he chose to start lower down the scale and impose the 15-year sentence with effect from today.
Thurton’s family were present in court and say they plan to have the case appealed.