A Waterford, St Michael man convicted of fatally stabbing another after returning to the scene of an earlier altercation will spend nearly 36 more years behind bars at Dodds Prison.

Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell gave Ramon Akeem Doyle, of Leinster Road, Waterford, St Michael, a 40-year starting sentence for murdering Victor Watson, formerly of Lower Deacons Road, on December 3, 2021. Doyle had denied the charge and was convicted by a 12-member jury following his trial. After his 1 586 days on remand were deducted, he has 35 years and 239 days left to serve.

Justice Smith-Bovell said: “Murder represents the ultimate violation of human rights—the deprivation of life. Law and society demand a penalty that reflects this absolute severity. The legal system must visibly uphold the rule of law to prevent vigilantism and maintain law and order as well as public trust in the judicial system. A custodial sentence is the only proportionate response to the intentional taking of a life, and there is no doubt from the facts in this case that a custodial sentence is merited.”