Today Newspaper Court Story
Gucci gets 8 year after all
GREAT BAY – Not an acquittal for attempted manslaughter after all, but eight years of imprisonment. That is the outcome of a new appeal case against Michael-Angelo Labega yesterday. The 23-year old, nicknamed Gucci, shot Keniel McKenzie on June 10, 2013 in his home on Salt Rock Drive in his neck and in his eye and stole a couple of hundred dollars from him.
The appeals court acquitted Labega in May 2014 of attempted manslaughter, saying that there was no evidence that he had the intention to kill McKenzie. It sentenced the defendant however to 6 years for firearm possession and extortion. The court’s argument against the manslaughter attempt did not go down well with the Supreme Court that sent the case back for review.
Solicitor-General Ton van der Schans asked the court at the new appeal hearing to sentence Labega to 8 years – conform the original ruling from the Court in First Instance – saying that there was sufficient evidence to prove attempted manslaughter.
