ST. THOMAS — Attorney General Designee Denise N. George announced Friday 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d Ms. George said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
V.I. D.O.J. prosecutors appeared before V.I. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Mackay Friday morning for Mr. Norman\u2019s sentencing in connection with the Oct. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 and 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A somber Norman apologized to the court for his actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI apologize for the pain and grief I caused,\u201d he said, while addressing the court on his own behalf. \u201cI was young and immature\u2026 I take responsibility for this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The court also heard from the victim\u2019s mother, Almira Benjamin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026At the end of the day, Shacoi was who he was, but he had a family,\u201d Ms. Benjamin told the court. \u201cWhat he took from me he can never bring back\u2026 You turned my life, my kids\u2019, my second son\u2019s life upside down until somebody killed him on Oct. 28, 2018\u2026 You emptied a part of my life; my heart is empty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n