Man Sentenced to Life for Stabbing Murder of 14-Year-Old Girl

St Catherine, Jamaica — A 22-year-old man who admitted to fatally stabbing a 14-year-old girl he claimed was his “girlfriend” has been sentenced to life in prison.

On Friday, Justice Bertram Morrison handed down the sentence in the St Catherine Circuit Court, ordering that Shemar McCalla must serve at least 15 years and nine months before becoming eligible for parole.

McCalla was convicted of the May 2021 murder of Denesha Cooper, a teenager from Naseberry Grove in St Catherine.

According to court records, McCalla attacked Cooper around 9 p.m. on May 8, 2021, stabbing her multiple times with a knife. He then attempted to flee the scene but was captured by residents.

Cooper was rushed to the Spanish Town Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries two days later.

During sentencing, Justice Morrison acknowledged McCalla’s remorse but stressed that his actions had devastating consequences.

“You have taken the life of a teenager whom you said that you had a relationship with, even though she was underage,” the judge stated. “This is a sad act, and premeditation cannot be omitted, as you agreed that you loved her and did not want to lose her.”

McCalla’s attorney, Nicholas Edmonds, urged the court to show leniency, arguing that McCalla was a teenager at the time of the crime, had shown remorse, and was not beyond redemption.

Justice Morrison acknowledged the lawyer’s “eloquence” but emphasized that McCalla must be held accountable for his actions.

McCalla had already spent two years and seven months in jail before his sentencing. His guilty plea spared the court a trial, but the severity of the crime left no room for a lighter punishment.

The case has reignited concerns over gender-based violence and the protection of minors in Jamaica, with advocates calling for stronger safeguards for young girls in vulnerable situations.