23 years jail for murder of 9-Y-0

Brian Bobb-Semple was Tuesday sentenced to 23 years imprisonment by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court for the murder of 9-year-old Shaquan Gittens, which occurred in April 2015.

Bobb- Semple,25, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge which stated that between April 1 and 4, 2015 at Houston Backlands, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Gittens.

He was initially indicted for the capital offence of murder, but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of murder. He is not eligible for parole.

Bobb- Semple was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay, who in mitigation, begged the court to be lenient with his client while stating that no person in their right state of mind would commit such a crime.

Representing the State was Prosecutors Mandel Moore and Abigail Gibbs.

In 2016, the defendant was committed to stand trial in the High Court after undergoing a Preliminary Inquiry at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

During his hearing at the Magistrate’s Court, Bobb-Semple was subject to a psychiatric evaluation by Government Psychiatrist Dr. Bhiro Harry who deemed him competent to stand trial.

According to reports, the suspect told investigators that he grabbed the child on April 1, took him aback of Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt and sexually abused him.

While doing so, he reportedly choked the lad until he passed out.

After committing the act, he reportedly slept with Gittens under a tree but realised the following morning that the boy had died and dumped his body into a canal.