TWO years after Odane Williams admitted to killing his neighbour and friend over a firearm that went missing, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Williams was among 10 people who were sentenced in the Home Circuit Court on Friday after taking advantage of the sentence reduction initiative.

In October Williams pleaded guilty to killing his neighbour and friend, Anthony “Juvy” Bailey.

The court heard that Williams admitted to Bailey’s mother, a witness for the prosecution, that he had killed her son. He was arrested in January 2016.

In outlining the details of the case, prosecutor Adley Duncan told the court that Bailey’s mother had retired to bed with her son in the house, but was awakened by a phone call from him around 3:26 am.

“Tell Ben and Cresha dem fi gi back di man dem dem gun ’cause dem ago kill me,” her son, who had left the family home, reportedly said.

Shortly after the phone rang again, Duncan told the court.

At that time, upon answering the phone, the mother recognised Williams’ voice saying, “Mi waan back mi gun”.

Bailey’s body was later discovered in a gully in St James.

During mitigation, Williams’ attorney Lloyd McFarlane asked Justice Martin Gayle to take into consideration that his client served under two years in remand. McFarlane also argued that his client was willing to change.

“Listening to the facts outlined, a young man lost his life over a gun. The gun is our enemy,” Justice Gayle said.

He however noted that he had taken into consideration the fact that Williams had no previous conviction and had pleaded guilty, but the most suitable sentence was 15 years.

Williams will have to serve 10 years before he is eligible for parole.