KINGSTON, Jamaica — Sonniman Walker, the man accused of killing an American in March 2020, was sentenced to 13 years in prison when he appeared in the St James Circuit Court on Friday, May 20.

Walker, who is also known as ‘Shortman’, had been named as the main suspect in the year-old murder case of 65-year-old Theodore Walling, who was found dead in Montego Bay, St James in March 2020.

READ: St James police name suspect in murder of visitor

He had been on the run for more than a year but was nabbed on May 14, 2021 in Rocky Point, Clarendon while attempting to flee to Haiti by boat.

READ: Murder suspect trying to flee island by boat held in Clarendon

Prior to that, the police had featured him on the Jamaica Constabulary Force ‘Wanted Wednesdays’ campaign.

After his capture, Walker was formally charged with murder and robbery with aggravation however, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of manslaughter and simple larceny.

Walker has now been sentenced to 12 years on the charge of manslaughter and one year for the charge of simple larceny. The sentences will run concurrently.

Following the sentencing, Deputy Superintendent of Police Du-Wayne Dixon, who is in charge of the Area One Major Investigations Division (MID), gave commendations to his team and the supporting force experts who helped to build a strong case.

“Our team at Area One MID pursued every line of investigation relentlessly,” he said. “We also received tremendous support from the St James Division and the Technical Services Division. I want to make special mention of Detective Corporal Logan Thomas from the Criminal Records Office, whose expertise in the area of latent print examination was a key factor in the case.”