Roudi Shmali (photo by social media)
He did nothing to deserve the way he was killed this way and his killer only received three years,” expressed Tony, a well-known Syrian businessman, who is frustrated with the sentence given to the individual found guilty of Roudi Shmali’s death.
On May 22, 2023, Shmali was shot and killed during a daylight robbery that went awry. Last week, the teenager who pulled the trigger was sentenced to three years in prison, the maximum penalty permitted under the juvenile sentencing guidelines in Antigua and Barbuda.
Many locals feel that the sentencing for such a serious crime is insufficient, and several Syrians we spoke to shared this sentiment. “I didn’t know him personally, but Syrians are family,” remarked one Syrian man who owns a tire shop, emphasizing that “Syrians don’t trouble no one. He should be sentenced to life.”
The defendant, who was just sixteen at the time, entered a guilty plea in May of this year and is now 18 years old. His sentence will be shortened by the 550 days he has already spent in custody while waiting for his trial.
Upon his release, he will be required to report to a nearby police station twice a week and adhere to a curfew from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Law enforcement will submit quarterly reports to the court regarding his compliance with these conditions, and any violations could result in a review of his sentence.
Additionally, another suspect in their twenties connected to the case is still awaiting arraignment proceedings.
I stand with the syrians!! This teen should be sentenced to life. First and foremost he went to do a robbery and then shot the man. killed the man and he’s alloted same amount of times as Mongoose? Mongoose did not kill a soul when he was sentenced to three years prioson time but this rascall, this ghetto shii gets three years for robbery and murder? I can’t help but question the justice system. Antigua is trash and it will remain trash forever. TELL GASTON ANTIGUA SURF SAY SO! check y’all justice system
If it was the other way around you would never hear your black mouth well you have your opportunity to bring down your people and uplift another well done
Well he’s a human anyway, better yet a teen. I somehow find 3 years to be too much for a teen. I’m sure he did not send himself or gave himself the gun.
Oh shut up. He didn’t know he was a teen when he went to rob? He could’ve said no. He could’ve reported the pressure to the police. But he said yes! We never heard of anyone sending him so he’s the only suspect and 3 years for a life is not enough. The Syrians are right.
Agreed totally he is now 18 and i really cannot fathom the bullshit curfew nonsense. 16years old are given the right to have sex yet are too young to face the full arm of the law. Nonsense!
I guess if it was someone in your family uour thoughrs eould be different. You wentvyo rob and still kill the young man. This is crazy. I stand with the syrians. He has the mind of an adult so he should be tried that way. Not enough years for this crime
Yes! He did A Very Serious CRIME …. Taking another Human Being’s Life. …. I Agree with LL TOTALLY!!! Our JUSTICE SYSTEM Must Be REVAMPED …. WHY? A Young Girl can say “Yes” to Sexual Activity at Age 16…… Both Males s and Females MUST Be 18 years BEFORE They are allowed to VOTE in A General Election Or Drive Any Vehicle …. Yet We ALL KNOW (or at least the LAW MAKERS should know) that a person’s BRAIN is Not COMPLETELY DEVELOPED Until age 24 – 26 years ……Hence the APPARENTLY SOFT in Sentencing …..
……. Can you imagine a 16 year old Female can give permission to have her Body violated……They did not say “To become THE WIFE OF” … The Law specifically refer to “Sexual Intercourse” So go figure THIS Out!!!They say IT’S A Man’s World!!! The Male of the Human Species RULE Things ….. I think at some time previously that Age was 14 years.
……. So My WOMEN Folks ….. Let us ALL GET TOGETHER to have OUR LAWS IN ANTIGUA/BARBUDA (especially those Laws that VICTIMIZE Women —— there are Other Laws that do THIS) CHANGED….. Especially in those areas that VICTIMIZE OUR YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN ….. 🌻😇🙏🏿💞
Something is seriously seriously wrong with you. 3 years is too much, but the man lost his life is not too much.
He did not give himself the gun when he got it why did he obey to do wrong? Could he not find a Police station and hand it over? Did he call names? Now I am thinking you may be his boss that gave him my job….. If the Syrian was your son, your husband your brother or your father. Would you be singing from the same him sheet?……. If he was a Jamaican or Guyanese, would you be saying the same thing?………..Hypocrites.
Don’t you worry 3 set of people you don’t trouble in this world
1: Syria
2: chinese
3:Russians
You will hear about it.
Correct is right! Three years? He took an innocent man’s life. Someone who was working to make a living for himself.
I would be concerned the same way. I would protest. Wage war. This is nonesence
He is a murderer and we need to see that. The syrians must be feeling unsafe rn. Never the less you gave him 3 years. This syrian man had a family just remember that.
So does this young man. Everyone is rooting for more than three years. Yet what he did was wrong but he’s just a teen and i think he was only 16 at the time of the crime. A little bit of leniency please
Really Renae? He did nit send himself ir give himself a gun? Really? As to the Syrian gentleman, he was human too.I don’t care if he was 16 or 60,life is the appropriate sentence he should have gotten.I can bet if it was a relative if yours, you would have been singing a different song.
As far as I am concerned,bring back hanging ,and as gruesome as it may be do it in ARG, invite the public and televised it also.
With such a slap on the wrist other teens and those that encourage them to do all this foolishness will see that he was made an example of and what the consequences will be.
These asiatic laws need to be changed when it comes to crime and punishment in Antigua.
Just a tI will reoeat, let it have been a relative of yours he killed, bet you woukd be asking for his head on a platter.een? He was old enough in my opinion to know right from wrong. This was not just a robbery but murder.
He should get more than 3yr he took a life even 15yr would a bin find let him sit an think long an hard about the life he took an the pain he cause to the man family
Government must change the Juvenile Act and any Jevenile from 15 years and above who committed serious crimes should be tried as Adults. Most serious crimes committing in this country are committed by Juveniles. They know the Law is on their side so they don’t care. If Government don’t change the Law, Vigilante Justice will try them in their own court. Government should act fast before we reach that stage.
This case undoubtedly sparks a broader conversation about sentencing guidelines for juvenile offenders, especially in cases of murder. Are our laws striking the right balance?
Give me a damn break. Do we really think he will adhere to the judgement upon his release from prison. I too agree that the punishment should reflect the severity of the crime. You took an innocent man life. Had it been the other way around and the Serian had shot and killed him we would be hearing them talking about boycotting Serians
I dont care if the victim was a Syrian, an Egyptian or from the blackest tribe in Africa or even Antiguan of African decent for that matter. That sentence was too lenient.. That teen took a LIFE!!!Three years sends the wrong message to other teens who have the same mindset and to grown ups who use teens to carry out their dirty crimes. In my opinion , life in prison at the very least is what he deserves.