Belize City man sentenced to 12 years for attempted murder

Diondray McKoy

This morning, in the Supreme Court chamber of Justice Troadio “John” Gonzalez, twenty-one-year-old Diondray McKoy, who appeared unrepresented, was slapped with a twelve year sentence after being found guilty of the attempted murder of Everal Gray.   During the trial, prosecutors Sheneiza Smith and Leeroy Banner called on the shooting victim, who had testified that he was at home on Queen Charlotte Street on June 23, 2009, at around 8:30 p.m., when he heard someone calling his name. When he went to door, he saw a man, who reached into his pants waist and pull out a gun. Gray turned around in an attempt to run away, but the man, later identified as McKoy, shot him in left shoulder, left armpit, and his right index finger. He ran into his bedroom where he collapsed.  Today in mitigation plea, McKoy chose to call no character witnesses.  According to him, he feels sorry for the victim, but he did not shoot him. The nine-member jury had deliberated for two hours when they announced that McKoy was guilty of attempted murder.