Life imprisonment for businessman who stabbed teen to death

Anthony Jones, a businessman, was on Monday sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years for the 2018 killing of 19-year-old Nyron Vyphuis, who attempted to save the man’s wife from being assaulted.

Jones, formerly of Circuit Ville, Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court. Earlier this month Jones was indicted for murder but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Jones confessed that on October 13, 2018, he unlawfully killed Vyphuis by stabbing him to death. The State was represented by Senior State Counsel, Lisa Cave while Jones was represented by attorney-at-law Stanley Moore, SC.

During his address to the court, Jones said he was intoxicated on the day in question; he pleaded with the court for a second chance and also apologised to the victim’s family.

“I ask for forgiveness, I accept my faults,” Jones told the court during his sentencing hearing.

However Justice Kissoon, in imposing the sentence, told Jones that he “ruthlessly and violently” ended the life of Vyphuis, who at the time was still a teenager.

Justice Kissoon took into consideration that the crime was a premeditated act, a deathly weapon was used to carry out the senseless crime and the element of domestic violence.

The News Room had reported that Jones and his common-law wife were at their liquor shop located at Yarrowkabra when an argument ensued between them.

During the argument, Jones attempted to attack his wife, but Vyphuis intervened, and so, Jones armed himself with a knife and stabbed the teen to his stomach.

Vyphuis was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead.