Shaquawn Alleyne, known as “IsWe”, was on Thursday sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for the 2021 murder of his 21-year-old girlfriend, Shonnette Dover, in Linden.
The sentence was handed down on June 18 by Justice Sandil Kissoon, who ordered that Alleyne will not be eligible for parole during the 25-year term.
The sentencing came just weeks after Alleyne abandoned plans to proceed to trial and instead entered a guilty plea to the murder charge.
Before sentencing, Alleyne addressed the court and expressed remorse for his actions. Fighting back tears, he apologized to Dover’s family and the court, acknowledging the pain and suffering caused by the killing.
According to the court proceedings, Alleyne said he accepts responsibility for his actions and pleaded for an opportunity to eventually rebuild his life.
He told the court that he had made a mistake and hoped the consequences of his actions would serve as a warning to others.
The case stems from the killing of Dover in Linden in 2021, a tragedy that shocked residents of the mining town and renewed concerns about domestic violence and violence against women in Guyana.
Dover was just 21 years old when her life was cut short.
Alleyne had originally been expected to stand trial before a judge and jury. However, earlier this month, he opted to plead guilty to the charge, sparing Dover’s relatives the ordeal of a lengthy murder trial and paving the way for the court to move directly to sentencing.
In imposing the sentence, Justice Kissoon ordered that Alleyne serve 25 years in prison with no eligibility for parole during that period.
The case is one of a number of domestic-related killings that have come before the courts in recent years, prompting continued calls from advocates, community leaders and law enforcement officials for stronger efforts to address interpersonal violence, conflict resolution and the protection of vulnerable persons.
With Thursday’s ruling, the criminal proceedings have concluded, bringing a measure of closure to a case that began with the death of a young woman whose life ended tragically in 2021.
