AJAY Frazer, the 22 year-old Clarendon mechanic who was charged with the 2022 murder and robbery of supermarket owner Jin Xian Ye in Porus, Manchester, avoided going to trial by pleading guilty to a six-count indictment, charging him for that crime on Tuesday.

Frazer, who was charged for murder and three counts of making use of a firearm contrary to the new Firearms Act, as well as robbery with aggravation and wounding with intent, was sentenced by Justice Leighton Pusey during an in-camera hearing in the Home Circuit Division of the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston to a cumulative 82 years.

For the murder count Frazer was sentenced to life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after 15 years. For the three counts of making use of a firearm contrary to the New Firearms Act, the 22-year-old was sentenced to 15 years each. For the wounding with intent count he was sentenced to 12 years, and 10 years for the robbery with aggravation count.

The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, so that he will effectively serve 15 years before being eligible for parole.

A senior prosecutor representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, speaking with the press following the sentencing, emphasised that parole is not granted automatically. She further noted that even if Frazer is granted parole after the 15 years expires he will remain under supervision for the rest of his life because of the murder conviction.

Addressing the sentences imposed, she said: "These sentences were recommended by the prosecution after considering the early guilty plea, the facts of the case and certain administrative processes and enactments which allows us.

"Certainly, in respect of the making use of the firearms under the New Firearms Act, although the legislation says the mandatory minimum for that offence is 20 years, after careful consideration the DPP's office recommended 15 years imprisonment," she said further.

According to the facts of the case, on Friday, December 9, 2022 men travelling in two motor vehicles went to Mandeville, Manchester, intending to rob an armoured truck. They were, however, forced to abort that mission as, upon arriving at the targeted location, multiple armoured trucks were on-site.

In retreating, the crooks decided to rob the supermarket located on Main Street, Porus that belonged to Xian Ye. On arriving, two of the men remained outside the building while two entered the supermarket with guns.

During the invasion, Xian Ye was robbed, shot and killed while a customer who was inside the supermarket was shot and injured and an undetermined sum of money taken from the individual, who later died. But Frazer was not charged for this murder.

Frazer and his accomplice then headed in the direction of Kingston while the other two men turned in the direction of Mandeville. They were intercepted by the Manchester police who had been alerted.

Frazer was subsequently arrested and charged.

In the meantime, the other accused in the matter will be brought before the court on October 30 for a plea and case management hearing.