The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AN Abaco man was convicted of the manslaughter of his uncle and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Shannon Walkins aka "Shannon Watkins" accepted a plea deal and pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing death of his uncle during a domestic dispute in 2015.

The two years and four months he spent on remand was deducted from his sentence, so Walkins will serve nine years and eight months behind bars.

Justice Estelle Gray Evans presided over the matter. Erica Kemp appeared on behalf of the Crown, and Simone Brown represented Walkins.

The matter was fast-tracked to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment in April 2016 when the accused was charged with murder.

According to the particulars, on December 21, 2015, the accused stabbed Alfred Walkins, 38, of Spring City, Abaco, during an altercation. The uncle was taken to the clinic for medical treatment but died in hospital on January 1, 2016.

During an interview with police, Walkins admitted to stabbing his uncle after being struck in his face. Before his death, the uncle gave a statement to police. He told officers he was talking to his nephew about being disrespectful to his mother and poked him in the face. There was a struggle and the uncle was stabbed.

Mrs Kemp said the issue of provocation arose and manslaughter would have been left to the jury if there was a trial.

The Crown entered into discussions with Walkins and his counsel under the Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion and Agreement) Act Chapter 91A on May 11.

The discussions were concluded on Thursday, May 31. It was agreed Walkins should plead guilty to manslaughter in consideration of the following: in pleading guilty to the offence of manslaughter, the parties agree to the term of 18 years' imprisonment; that the 18-year term be reduced by 1/3 to 12 years given the circumstances of the case; that it would be further reduced by two years and four months spent on remand; that the sentence will total nine years and eight months from the day of conviction.

Ms Brown accepted the summary of facts.

When asked by the judge if he accepts the facts, Walkins replied, "Yes ma'am".

Justice Evans convicted Walkins of manslaughter and sentenced him to 12 years in prison to run from May 31, with two years and four months deducted from the sentence, resulting in nine years and eight months to be served.