JOEL Spooner, 24, was, on Friday, sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Shenese Walks.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the High Court in Demerara.
Spooner was originally sentenced to 25 years, but with the mandatory one-third deduction for his early guilty plea, the final sentence was reduced to 16 years and eight months.
Time served while on remand will be deducted by the prison authorities. No adjustments were made for mitigating or aggravating factors in the case.
Spooner was initially indicted for the capital offence of murder. The tragic incident occurred between April 12 and 13, 2022, at their Craig Public Road home in East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Walks, a school teacher from Linden, was reportedly involved in a dispute with Spooner during which she armed herself with a knife.
Spooner told police he attempted to disarm her but ended up stabbing her in the left side of her neck. After the stabbing, he secured the house and fled the scene.
Walks’ lifeless body was found by police at their home, with the knife still embedded in her neck. Spooner later confessed to his brother what happened and was escorted to the Grove Police Station, where he was taken into custody.
Walks’ cause of death was given as haemorrhage and shock due to stab wound to neck compounded by bronchoaspiration.
The prosecution was led by State Counsel Nelissa Peterkin, assisted by State Counsel Praneta Seeraj and State Counsel Christopher Belfield.
The prosecution’s statement of aggravating factors outlined several key points to be considered in sentencing. It highlighted the serious nature of the offence, emphasising the escalation from a verbal dispute to a fatal stabbing.
According to the prosecution, Spooner’s actions directly caused Walks’ unlawful death, constituting a grave breach of legal and moral duties.
The prosecution also noted that after inflicting the injury, Spooner fled the scene—first to the Kitty seawall, then to his brother’s and aunt’s homes—before eventually surrendering to the police.

This behaviour, the prosecutors contended, demonstrated a disregard for the victim’s welfare and an evasion of responsibility, thereby aggravating the severity of the offence.
Furthermore, victim impact statements submitted to the court revealed the profound trauma experienced by Walks’ family.
The prosecution emphasised that her father described the ongoing pain felt by the family, particularly since the deceased’s son was only one year old at the time. Walks’ mother spoke of the emotional hardship she continues to endure, while her sister expressed fear and devastation resulting from the incident.
Lastly, the prosecution stressed that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to violent crime, reflecting society’s condemnation of unlawful killing.
Citing relevant case law, the State urged the court to impose a sentence that carefully balances the aggravating factors with the offender’s degree of culpability.
In sentencing submissions presented to the High Court, defence attorney Madan Kissoon urged the court to consider several mitigating factors in the case of Spooner, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
The defence highlighted Spooner’s status as a first-time offender with an unblemished criminal record, noting that he had no previous convictions or encounters with the law prior to the incident.
He noted Spooner’s genuine remorse and co-operation, pointing out that he voluntarily surrendered to police in the presence of his brother and expressed sincere apologies to the family of the deceased.
Addressing the circumstances surrounding the offence, the defence described the fatal stabbing as accidental and triggered by a heated moment during a tumultuous and often violent relationship between Spooner and Walks.
The defence lawyer urged the court to consider this history of mutual conflict when determining the sentence.
Further, the defence underscored Spooner’s willingness to engage in rehabilitation programmes, including anger management and vocational training, to improve his behaviour and facilitate his reintegration into society.
Concluding, Kissoon submitted that a custodial sentence on the lower end of the scale, combined with rehabilitative measures, would better serve justice and the public interest than a harsh, lengthy imprisonment with no parole.
In her sentencing remarks, Justice Ally-Seepaul explained that the starting point of 25 years was determined by considering Spooner’s intimate relationship with Walks and the domestic violence nature of the crime, a serious issue widely seen in society.
She emphasised that it was an aggravating factor due to the disturbing frequency with which women in the country are being killed by their partners.
According to her, the court must send a strong message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. The judge emphasised that individuals need to seek better ways to resolve disputes within their relationships to prevent issues from escalating into violence.
She said that there was no genuine remorse shown, as the convict instead sought to place blame on Walks for her own demise.
Justice Ally-Seepaul highlighted the use of a deadly weapon, Spooner’s failure to take the victim to the hospital or seek help, and the devastating impact the crime has had on the deceased’s family.
She further noted that the defence’s request for the court to consider provocation as a mitigating factor, as well as the claim of no premeditation, was rejected.
She said that mitigating factors in relation to the offender included his young age, lack of prior convictions, his expressed willingness to participate in rehabilitation programmes, and the favourable probation and prison conduct reports.