Two weeks after pleading guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, Shonnette Dover, Linden resident, Shaquawn “IsWe” Alleyne, was sentenced to 25 years in jail today by Justice Sandil Kissoon.
Before sentencing, Alleyne broke down in tears as he stood before the Court and apologized to the family of Shonnette Dover and the Court for his crime.
He said he takes full account for his actions, but believes he deserves a second chance.
While opening crying in the Court, Alleyne said he remembers the time he spent with Dover when they were a couple. He said it was never his intention to take her life, explaining to the Court that it was an “accident”. He said he was afraid as he begged the family of Dover to forgive him.
The murder convict told the Judge that he understands that he made a mistake, but wanted a fair chance in life. He offered an apology for the pain and hurt that he caused the family of the woman he once loved but killed, while stating that he hopes to one day return to being a productive member of the society.
In handing down the 25-year-jail sentence, Justice Sandil Kissoon reminded Alleyne that he was before the Court for the serious offence of murder.
The Judge said Shonnette Dover was a child of her community who was murdered in her safe space by the man in whom she reposed trust and confidence.
The Judge said the Court has taken into account the fact that the young woman was murdered by being shot to the head in front of her young sister, and that instead of seeking medical attention for her, Alleyne opted to bury her body in a shallow grave in the backyard of their home.
The Judge also noted that Alleyne fled the jurisdiction after the murder and took up residence in neighbouring Suriname, only returning after being caught and handed over to local authorities. The Judge reminded that his return was not voluntary.
Justice Kissoon took into account the fact that Alleyne has taken responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty and that although he had previous brushes with the law, he was never previously convicted.
The Judge handed down the 25-year jail sentence with no eligibility for parole.
As the murder accused left the Courtroom, the man kept his head down and offered no comment as he was taken back to jail.
Alleyne was charged in March 2024 for the murder of the girlfriend after being on the run for almost three years.
He was arrested in Suriname and handed over to the Guyanese authorities who had an active wanted warrant out for his arrest at the time.
The girlfriend, Shonnette Dover, was 21-years-old when she was brutally murdered.
She was shot to the head and buried in the backyard of the home that she shared with Alleyne.
Initially, Alleyne reported his girlfriend as missing and even led a search operation across Linden along with some of the young woman’s own family members and other relatives.
When investigators eventually decided to search the backyard of his home as part of their probe, Alleyne disappeared.
Shonnette Dover’s body was found buried in a shallow grave.
The motive behind the murder remains unclear. A teenage relative of the dead woman, who was visiting the home at the time of the murder, was arrested and questioned about the incident.
The entire country was gripped by the circumstances surrounding the young woman’s murder back in 2021, the investigations, the discovery of the body and the boyfriend who went on the run before being caught in Suriname after almost three years after the murder.
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