Kingston, Jamaica – A High Court judge has sentenced a 17-year-old boy to four years and 10 months in jail for the murder of a 16-year-old student earlier this year.
Justice Andrea Thomas, sitting in the St James Circuit Court on Monday, imposed the sentence after 16-year-old Khamal Hall was stabbed to death during a fight on March 21 at William Knibb Memorial High School.
The student had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter on November 7 in relation to Hall’s death.
The judge imposed the sentence because of the student’s age, his previous guilty plea in the Trelawny Circuit Court, and the psychological report which had been submitted for him ahead of the sentencing hearing.
The court heard that on March 21, Hall and the defendant had gotten into a fight on the grounds of the school compound. During the brawl, a knife was used to stab Hall in the neck. Hall was rushed to Falmouth Public Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.
Media reports said that the fight was over a guard ring, which Hall had allegedly been accused of stealing. Guard rings are believed to offer supernatural protection from harm. (CMC)
