The High Court of Justice, Saint Christopher Circuit, recently delivered sentences in two serious criminal matters involving violent offences.

In Case SKBHCR 2024/0018, Justice Iain Morley KC sentenced Shakeim Cranston, also known as “Shaq” and “Little Nuzzle,” to 63 years’ imprisonment for the murder of Darnell Govia on 20 June 2017.

A release by the St. Kitts Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) stated that Mr. Cranston was convicted by a unanimous jury verdict and that the “the killing was wholly premeditated, carried out with a firearm, and occurred in a public hospital setting, placing members of the public at risk”. It was also noted that the murder “was committed while the defendant was on bail for a previous firearm offence”. No mitigation, admission of responsibility, or remorse was presented. Time spent on remand since 2017 will count toward the sentence.

In a separate matter, Case SKBHCR 2023/0041, brothers Divon and Dijon Trotman were sentenced to 22.5 years and 21.5 years respectively for wounding with intent to murder.

The convictions arose from a coordinated attack on Keon Fyfield in March 2021 involving a knife and a concrete block. According to the SKNIS “Although Mr. Fyfield later died in hospital, the murder charge was withdrawn after the Crown could not establish causation beyond reasonable doubt due to intervening medical issues. The Court nevertheless characterised the offence as a particularly grave example of attempted murder, involving weapons, multiple blows, and efforts to conceal evidence.”

Time already served on remand will be taken into account, and both defendants qualify for statutory remission based on good behaviour.