(Kaieteur News) – Twenty-two-year-old Shaka Phillips was on Wednesday sentenced to 21 years after pleading to the murder of a Linden school teacher last year July.
Phillips had killed 26-year-old Jenel Pollydore of Lower Kara, Mackenzie, Linden. The sentence was handed down by Justice Priscilla Chandra-Hanif at the Demerara High Court.
Murdered school teacher, Jenel Pollydore
Shaka Phillips
Pollydore, a nursery school teacher, was shot dead by Phillips during a wedding reception in Linden. The teacher had separated from Phillips because of abuse, she had obtained a restraining order against him, but her relatives said it was no use.
They reportedly had to resort to changing their locks on the door to protect her from him. At around 21:30 hrs. on July 19, 2025 their worst fears came true at a wedding reception she was attending with her niece. The niece, Malika Pollydore recalled that her aunt was standing at the gate in front of the R&R Hotel when the suspect approached her. He reportedly asked why she was not answering the phone. An argument ensued between them. Things took a deadly turn when he pulled out a gun and shot at her. Pollydore ran for her life, running into the hotel by the pool area, but Phillips chased after her and fired two more shots before running away. Pollydore was hit and fell to the ground where she remained motionless. Two 9MM spent shells were also recovered from the scene. At the High Court the judge started with a 30-year sentence for Phillips. Two years were deducted for mitigating factors and another seven years for his early guilty plea, bringing the sentence down to 21 years. Time served in custody on remand is to be deducted from the 21 years as well.
Source: Kaieteur News
