FIVE of the six people charged with the robbery and murder of businessman Roger Chang in 2020 were on Friday slapped with long prison sentences, ranging from nine years to life, after they had pleaded guilty.

A news release from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) said the five — Khadeisha McKenzie, Cebert Duggan, Ludlow Cousins, Jamar Jackson and Derrique Reid — had pleaded guilty between April 7 and May 20 this year.

Chang’s body was found with multiple stab wounds on a beach in Dover, St Mary, on March 15, 2020.

Outlining the case the ODPP said Chang, who was 62, and 35-year-old McKenzie had met on the dating app Tinder and had travelled to St Mary, ending up at a river in Enfield in the parish.

At some point, prior to the trip, a plan was hatched between the five to rob Chang. During the robbery it was suggested that Chang, who was president of the New Kingston Citizens’ Association, be killed as he had seen their faces. However, Cousins, Jackson and Reid, who were minors at the time, objected and eventually left the location where Chang was being held after they had shared the money and other items taken from him.

The ODPP said that McKenzie, Duggan and another accused transported Chang to the beach in Dover where he was stabbed multiple times.

The case was investigated by the St Mary Criminal Investigation Branch and in 2021 McKenzie, Duggan, and the three minors were arrested. The sixth person was arrested in 2021.

“The Crown’s case was based on a combination of cautioned statements given by each of the accused, circumstantial evidence and DNA evidence. All of the accused persons were represented individually by defence counsel,” the ODPP said.

The Crown was represented by an assistant director of public prosecutions.

Four of the six accused entered guilty pleas in the St Mary Circuit Court while Duggan pleaded guilty in the Home Circuit Court. They were all sentenced by Justice Stephane Jackson Haisley.

McKenzie was sentenced to a combined total of 39 years for illegal possession of firearm, robbery with aggravation, unauthorised access to computer data, and acquiring criminal property. On the murder charge she was sentenced to life in prison and is not eligible for parole before 22 years and six months.

Duggan was sentenced to a combined total of 26 years for illegal possession of firearm, robbery with aggravation. On the murder charge he was sentenced to life and will not be eligible for parole before 24 years and six months.

Cousins was sentenced to 17 years for illegal possession of firearm and robbery with aggravation; Jackson was slapped with 16 years and one month for illegal possession of firearm and robbery with aggravation; while Reid was sentenced to a combined total of 29 years and 44 months for illegal possession of firearm, robbery with aggravation, unauthorised access to computer data, and acquiring criminal property. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The sixth accused is scheduled to return to court on July 14, 2022.