Shaw (Kevon) v. R (Jamaica Court of Appeal, 2024)

The appellant was convicted of murdering his former intimate partner after she ended their relationship. The trial judge imposed life imprisonment and required twenty years before parole eligibility. On appeal, the appellant argued that the judge failed to consider alternative sentencing options or properly weigh aggravating and mitigating factors, and that he was not credited for time spent in pretrial custody. The Court of Appeal held that the trial judge had lawful discretion to impose life imprisonment with a fixed minimum period before parole and had not erred in considering aggravating and mitigating factors. The Court found error only in the failure to credit pre-sentence custody. Applying sentencing guidelines and relevant precedent, the Court reduced the minimum period to eighteen years and five months before parole eligibility.