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St. Thomas man gets 15 years for 2014 murder

United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Attorney General Designee, Denise N. George announced yesterday Friday, May 24, 2019, that Carlos Norman, who shot and killed Shacoi Benjamin outside a packed local nightclub, will spend the next 15 years behind bars as punishment for his crime. Photo: VI Consortium
VI CONSORTIUM

ST. THOMAS, USVI – United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Attorney General Designee, Denise N. George announced yesterday Friday, May 24, 2019, that Carlos Norman, who shot and killed Shacoi Benjamin outside a packed local nightclub, will spend the next 15 years behind bars as punishment for his crime, Dept. of Justice Public Media Officer Corliss Smithen made known via release late Friday.

It is my hope that the family and loved ones of Shacoi Benjamin will find some solace as a result of this sentence handed down by the court,” Ms George said.

USVI D.O.J. prosecutors appeared before USVI Superior Court Judge Kathleen Mackay on Friday morning for Mr Norman’s sentencing in connection with October, 19, 2014, shooting death of Mr Benjamin, 22, outside the Blitz Nightclub on Norre Gade.  In her allocution, Assistant Attorney General Nadja Harrigan recommended that the court abide by the terms of the plea agreement. 

Charged in an amended information with one count each of first-degree murder, unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, using a deadly weapon, two counts each of third-degree assault and two unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a third-degree assault, Mr. Norman entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors.

15 Years Imprisonment 

He pleaded guilty to the single charge of second-degree murder in exchange for a 15-year prison term and dismissal with prejudice of the other charges.  Judge Mackay adhered to the terms of the plea agreement, imposed a 15-year prison term on Norman and ordered him to pay $75 in court costs.

A sombre Norman apologized to the court for his actions, “I apologize for the pain and grief I caused,” he said while addressing the court on his own behalf, “I was young and immature… I take responsibility for this.”

The court also heard from the victim’s mother, Almira Benjamin, “…At the end of the day, Shacoi was who he was, but he had a family.” Ms Benjamin further told the court.  “What he took from me he can never bring back… You turned my life, my kids’, my second son’s life upside down until somebody killed him on Oct. 28, 2018… You emptied a part of my life; my heart is empty.”

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