Hunte gets six years for manslaughter

Romano Hunte will spend the next six years at Her Majesty’s Prisons for killing a 14-year-old boy.{{more}}

Hunte, 21, of Ahsburton, was sentenced on Tuesday at the High Court’s Criminal Assizes for causing the death of David “Mavado” Glenn of Rockies on March 4, 2009, at Belair.

Hunte was initially charged with murder, but when his matter was called up for hearing, he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

In a social inquiry report, done and read by caseworker Camille McIntosh of the Family Affairs Division, she noted that an interview was conducted with the prisoner on February 12, 2010.

In that interview, McIntosh stated that Hunte was “overwhelmingly apologetic” for his actions on that tragic day. Hunte noted that he was repeatedly “troubled” by the teen and would often find himself running from him and his friends. Hunte added that he could not even remember how the feud between them began as early as 2008.

McIntosh said that Hunte told her he never meant to kill Glenn and that it was only an accident.

The facts in the matter are that at approximately 3:45pm, Glenn, then a student of the West St George Secondary School, was sitting at the side of the road awaiting a minibus. Minutes later, Glenn attempted to board the omnibus “Sammy”, in which Hunte was already a passenger.

When the bus stopped, Hunte came out and held onto the deceased before stabbing him in the left side of his chest.

Glenn then entered the bus bleeding profusely and had to be rushed to the health centre, where he died shortly after.

In a police statement, Hunte said that he was on his way to Arnos Vale when Glenn entered the van. He stated that he saw ‘Mavado’ “screw up his face” and begin taking off his bag. Hunte said that he saw that Glenn had a cutlass in his bag, that was why he came out the van and stabbed him.

Further in the report, Hunte added that once he gains freedom that he would go to church more and pray for forgiveness.

At the end of the report, McIntosh indicated that Hunte is a good prospect for rehabilitation and reform.

Hunte’s Attorney, Grant Connell, asked the judge to take into account the actions of the deceased on several occasions and the fact that his client walked away when provoked.

Connell added that the alias “Mavado” spoke volumes. “This alias refers to a gangster,” Connell noted. The young lawyer also read some of the violent lyrics of the Jamaican Dancehall artiste, which spoke about murder and guns. “It is this that prompted his ban from St Vincent…this is a reflection of society,” stated Connell.

He went onto say that “Glenn got the bravado to be Mavado and constantly attack Hunte”.

Decked in a black suit and bow tie, Hunte wiped the sweat away from his face repeatedly when presiding Judge Frederick Bruce-Lyle told him to stand up. The judge said that he believes Hunte is very remorseful about what happened. “It is like you were literally under siege by this young man. The only thing that bothers me is that you had a knife with you and intended to use it,” Bruce-Lyle said.

The resident judge stated that if Hunte had reported the several attacks to the police, everything might have gone differently. “This has resulted in a loss of life and I take this very seriously,” Bruce-Lyle asserted.(KW)