A High Court judge has sentenced a man to 63 years in jail for the murder of Darnell Govia, which occurred on June 20, 2017.
Justice Iain Morley sentenced Shakeim Cranston, also known as ‘Shaq’ and ‘Little Nuzzle’ after he was unanimously convicted by a jury verdict.
The court found that the killing was wholly premeditated, carried out with a firearm, and occurred in a public hospital setting, placing members of the public at risk.
The court was shown extensive CCTV footage, forensic findings, and eyewitness testimony and in sentencing, the judge identified multiple aggravating factors, including the use of a firearm, the public location, the calculated nature of the offence, and the fact that the murder was committed while the defendant was on bail for a previous firearm offence.
The High Court noted there was no formal mitigation, no admission of responsibility, and no expression of remorse.
Time spent on remand since June 2017 will count toward the sentence, and the defendant will be eligible for statutory remission for good behaviour in accordance with prison regulations.
Meanwhile, in a separate matter, to brothers, Divon Trotman was jailed for 22.5 years and Dijon Trotman to 21.5 years’ imprisonment for the offence of wounding with intent to murder.
They were convicted following a lengthy trial relating to a coordinated and sustained attack on Keon Fyfield on March 7, 2021.
The High Court heard that the defendants jointly attacked the victim using a knife and a concrete block, inflicting multiple severe head injuries, including stab wounds penetrating the skull.
Although Fyfield later died in hospital, the murder charge was withdrawn after the Crown could not establish causation beyond reasonable doubt due to intervening medical issues.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.