Spooner Sentenced to 16yrs for Killing Girlfriend in Craig
August 11 2025
Joel Spooner, 24, was on Friday sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Shenese Walks.
The sentence, handed down by Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the High Court in Demerara, followed a one-third reduction from the original 25-year term for his early guilty plea.
Time spent on remand will be deducted by prison authorities.
Spooner, initially charged with murder, admitted to stabbing Walks during a heated dispute at their home on Craig Public Road, East Bank Demerara, between April 12 and 13, 2022.
The young teacher from Linden reportedly armed herself with a knife during the altercation. Spooner told police he tried to disarm her but ended up stabbing her in the neck.
He then locked the house and fled.
Walks’ body was later discovered with the knife still lodged in her neck.
A post-mortem confirmed she died from haemorrhage and shock due to the stab wound, compounded by bronchoaspiration. Spooner confessed to his brother before surrendering to police.
The prosecution, led by State Counsel Nelissa Peterkin with assistance from State Counsel Praneta Seeraj and State Counsel Christopher Belfield, argued that Spooner’s actions escalated from a verbal dispute to deadly violence, representing a severe breach of legal and moral duties.
They highlighted his decision to flee rather than seek help, visiting relatives before turning himself in.
Victim impact statements revealed the lasting trauma on Walks’ family, including the emotional hardship faced by her parents and the devastating effect on her young son, who was just one year old at the time.
Prosecutors stressed that the sentence should reflect society’s condemnation of domestic violence and act as a deterrent to similar crimes.
Defence attorney Madan Kissoon urged the court to consider Spooner’s status as a first-time offender, his lack of prior convictions, and his cooperation with authorities.
He argued that the incident occurred during a volatile relationship marked by mutual conflict and that Spooner expressed remorse and a willingness to undergo rehabilitation, including anger management and vocational training.
The defence sought a lighter sentence, arguing the stabbing was accidental and unpremeditated.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Ally-Seepaul underscored the prevalence of domestic violence in Guyana, calling it a serious societal issue.
She noted that the intimate relationship between Spooner and Walks, and the use of a deadly weapon, were aggravating factors.
The judge rejected claims of provocation and accidental harm, emphasising Spooner’s failure to assist Walks after the stabbing and his attempt to shift blame to the victim.
Mitigating factors considered included Spooner’s age, clean criminal record, and willingness to participate in rehabilitation.
However, Justice Ally-Seepaul said the court must send a strong message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated, especially in domestic settings.
The judge concluded that a 25-year starting point was appropriate, with the final sentence reduced in accordance with sentencing guidelines for guilty pleas.
