TWO 16-year-olds who admitted to killing a 53-year-old cab driver in Spanish Town for money to buy sneakers and attend a dance will know their fate on December 22.

When the two appeared in court last Wednesday, the judge was told that a probation report ordered by Justice Patrick Brooks was not available. The boys, who admitted to making a living out of robbing taxi operators in Spanish Town, St Catherine, were then asked to return to court on December 22 for sentencing.

The boys were charged with murder for the August 6 shooting death of Silbourne Kirkpatrick Huntley of Bridgeport in Portmore, St Catherine, but pleaded guilty last month to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The court was told that the boys, along with another youth, took Huntley’s taxi – a Toyota Corolla station wagon – about 3:00 pm in Spanish Town on the day in question, and when the car reached the vicinity of Central Village, a shot was heard and the boys were seen running from the vehicle. One boy was immediately held, leading to the arrest of the other on August 10. The third youth escaped.

In their statement to the police, the boys confessed that their intention was to rob the victim when the weapon accidentally went off, shooting Huntley in the chest.

One of the boys confessed that he made $11,000 on one occasion, after robbing a taxi operator at knifepoint.