Prosecutors Appeal Judge’s Decision Not to Jail an Admitted Killer

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Prosecutors are appealing a judge’s decision not to jail an admitted killer.

Justice Franklyn Williams KC sentenced 21-year-old Kenneth Hanna Jr to three years of probation for the fatal stabbing of Ashton McPhee, rejecting prosecutors’ pleas for him to impose a sentence in the range of 15 to 30 years.

Hanna initially faced a murder charge in relation to McPhee’s death in 2021, but he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter during his trial last October.

According to the evidence, McPhee, 17, started a fight with Hanna’a friends at Arawak Cay in December 2021.

McPhee allegedly attacked Hanna, who was also 17, when he tried to break up the skirmish. In defense of himself, Hanna swung a knife, ending McPhee’s life.

Justice Williams did not consider Hanna a danger to the public and determined that he was unlikely to reoffend .

The appeal against his decision will be heard in July.