Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the execution-style killing of Seon London, also known as “Gaza,” a 27-year-old who was fatally shot in Sophia, Greater Georgetown in October 2020.
The convicted men, Sitaffa Joseph, also known as “Safo,” a 32-year-old from Trench Road, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and Rickford Marcus, alias “Spent Shell,” a 27-year-old from James Street, Albouystown, learned their fate in a ruling delivered at the High Court in Demerara on Monday. Justice Navindra Singh handed down the life sentences after a mixed 12-member jury found the men guilty of the premeditated murder.

On the evening of October 17, 2020, London was sitting on a bench in front of a friend’s yard in ‘C’ Field, Sophia, when tragedy struck. According to the prosecution’s case, London’s wife had left to purchase food, leaving him and his friend engaged in conversation.
About an hour later, two men armed with handguns approached and opened fire without warning. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots as London was struck several times.
The assailants fled the scene on foot, leaving London bleeding profusely. He succumbed to his injuries before he could receive medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The killers were subsequently apprehended by the police.

Police investigations revealed that London was targeted, as one of the men was linked to a prior attempt on his life in May 2020. At the time, London had been shot in Cummings Park, Sophia, and was hospitalised for several weeks. According to reports, a suspect in that earlier attack was charged with attempted murder and was out on bail.

During a plea in mitigation, Leslie Sobers, the attorney representing both convicted men, urged the court to temper justice with mercy. He argued that his clients were under the influence of a psychotropic drug (marijuana) at the time of the incident, which he claimed impaired their judgment and prevented them from “acting with a clear mind.”

Regarding Joseph, the lawyer stated that his client extended condolences to the court, and the deceased’s family. However, he said Joseph maintained his innocence, denying involvement in the killing despite an eyewitness testifying to having seen him at the scene.
Sobers appealed to the court for a measure of leniency in sentencing, emphasising the importance of giving his clients a chance to rehabilitate and eventually reintegrate into society to make a meaningful contribution to the development of their country.
When given the opportunity to address the court, Joseph maintained his innocence, denying any involvement in London’s death. He pleaded for a chance to reunite with his young child.
“I want to say sorry to the relatives [of London]” he said. “I would like the court to know that I’m innocent and I’ve been in jail for four years for something I did not do.”
Marcus also denied any involvement in the murder, stating, “I am very much sorry for what happened, but I was not involved in this whole situation.”

The grieving mother of London submitted a victim impact statement to the court, pleading for the maximum penalty to be imposed on her son’s killers. She expressed that no one should have to endure the loss of a loved one, particularly when the death was so merciless.
She described her son as a loving individual and a dedicated provider.

State prosecutor, attorney-at-law Madana Rampersaud, highlighted several aggravating factors, emphasising the grave nature and prevalence of unlawful killings in society.
He described London’s murder as a “premeditated and calculated” act, noting that it not only took London’s life but also resulted in the theft of his wallet.
The prosecutor pointed out that a dangerous weapon—a firearm—was used in the commission of the crime, highlighting that both convicted men were armed.

He further stated that neither Marcus nor Joseph had shown genuine remorse, as they failed to acknowledge their actions’ role in causing the victim’s death. Rampersaud pointed to the men’s propensity for criminal behaviour, citing Marcus’ prior conviction for simple larceny and Joseph’s convictions for robbery under-arms and possession of narcotics with intent to traffic.

Given these factors, prosecutor Rampersaud urged the court to impose a sentence that reflects society’s condemnation of such crimes and serves as a deterrent to both the offenders and others with similar inclinations. Justice Singh sentenced the convicts to life imprisonment. Regarding their eligibility for parole, he set a base term of 30 years, to which he added five years for premeditation, five years for the use of a firearm, and three years for their prior convictions, amounting to 43 years. From the 43 years, the prison was ordered to deduct the time they spent in pre-trial detention. The other prosecutor handling the case was attorney Christopher Belfield.