By Cherisse Sutton
Reporter SKNVibes
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| Kemba Swanston was sentenced to a life term sentencing earlier today Tuesday Dec 5, for the murder of Dennis Trotman. |
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): The young man who claimed that he was an innocent bystander while a murder was being committed was sentenced a few hours ago to a life term sentence.
Kemba Swanston 23, of Keys Village, testified in court during a month-long trial that began in September and ended in October. Swanston maintained that he was not a part of the slaying of Dennis Trotman a.k.a. Ras J and the wounding of Trotman's brother Davin Henry a.k.a. DD.
Both brothers were traveling on an omnibus on their way home to Cayon when the bus stopped at Four-Mile Alley in Keys to drop off a passenger.
Swanston was found guilty on Tuesday October 10 by a 12-member jury which was not stirred by the testimonies of four young men who were involved in the crime. Those men, Leon Norford, Antwan Thompson, Kenneth and Kurt Mills plead guilty to manslaughter and are presently serving their sentences.
Defense lawyer Jason Hamilton summoned the four men to the witness-stand to testify on the defense's behalf. They all testified that Swanston was not a part of the murder and that he was just looking on.
The testimonies did not influence the Judge who delivered the life sentence for such a crime.
Swanston learnt his fate at around 9:30 a.m. when he also received ten years for the attempted murder of Herbert.
His Lordship, Justice Francis Belle, said that even though Swanston grew up without a father or a mother, (due to the fact that his father had killed his mother when he was very young) that was no reason for his 'kind' of behavior.
'Even though you are not likely to be the one who is responsible for the stabbing of the deceased, you are jointly liable for the killing and the court has to protect the community from this kind of violence," his Lordship said. "Kemba Swanston should be removed from society."
Swanston seemed surprised and almost shocked as he listened to his sentencing from the prisoner's dock. However, he remained calm and didn't speak a word until he was outside the courthouse. In seemingly high spirits, he shouted to someone to inform his grandmother of his sentencing.
After the verdict on Oct. 10, Swanston's father who wished not to have his name stated, said that he was not present for the entire case but was very disappointed with the verdict the jury returned.
Swanston also told SKNVibes at that time that he would appeal the matter.~~Adz:Right~~
"It was up to the jurors, but I'm not guilty all the way. That's life still, when people have to judge you," he said. "I felt that the case was in my favour and the four guys who did the crime came in and say I wasn't a part of it so I don't understand; it's unfair."
Swanston also said that he had planned to get into the music world because he enjoys singing.
He could be heard singing quietly in the court before the case was in session each day and to pursue his singing was what he really wanted to do.
"But now I got to chill back. I grew up with my grandmother and I've already been through a lot; but I have no fear, everything happens for a reason, but I'm going to appeal this."
