Two Men Sentenced to Over 10 Years Each for 2018 Murder of Phone Card Vendor.
Two Men Sentenced to Over 10 Years Each for 2018 Murder of Phone Card Vendor.
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In a sobering courtroom development, Alexander La Cruz and Mark Welch have been sentenced to 13 years and 14 years, respectively, for the 2018 murder of Ron Mansfield, a phone card vendor who was tragically shot and robbed outside his residence. The pair pleaded guilty to a joint murder indictment, and Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall carried out the sentencing on Wednesday at the Demerara High Court.
La Cruz, a 31-year-old father of two formerly residing in West Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and 31-year-old Welch, who previously lived in West La Penitence, Georgetown, had admitted to their roles in the murder during the proceedings.
Ron Mansfield, a 37-year-old father of two, not only lost his life during the incident but was also robbed of his day’s earnings, which he used to support his family. Justice Morris-Ramlall emphasized the senselessness of Mansfield’s killing, noting that he was shot in front of his home. The Judge expressed concern over the frequency of hardworking citizens being robbed of their possessions.
Taking into account that neither La Cruz nor Welch was the actual shooter and finding no evidence to suggest their knowledge of a gun being used, Justice Morris-Ramlall considered an appropriate penalty for the two. She highlighted their youth, indicating that their chances of rehabilitation seemed promising. The Judge noted the sincerity in the prisoners’ expressions of regret to the deceased man’s family.
The sentences for La Cruz and Welch commenced at a starting point of 24 years, with a deduction of one-third for their early guilty plea and mitigating factors. Consequently, La Cruz received a 13-year sentence, and Welch was sentenced to 14 years. Both offenders were credited for time spent in pre-trial detention.
The tragic incident unfolded on June 19, 2018, when Mansfield, residing at 772 Westminster, West Bank Demerara, was attacked and shot in the chest moments after returning home on his motorcycle from his work as a phone card vendor. Despite efforts to save him, Mansfield succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. The bag containing his phone cards and money was never recovered.
About their roles in the robbery, Welch served as the lookout, while La Cruz facilitated the transportation of his accomplices to and from the crime scene. Attorney-at-Law Tuanna Hardy represented both defendants and Attorneys-at-Law Rbina Christmas, Caressa Henry, Delon Fraser, and Madana Rampersaud were in charge of the prosecution, which saw the Men Sentenced successfully.
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