Man to spend 20 years in prison after shooting female farmer

A man who shot a female farmer in the leg with a shotgun causing a wound that has yet to heal, will spend nearly 20 years in prison for wounding with intent.

Maxcintha Mckie or Mama Ny of Mount Pleasant, Mesopotamia is unable to farm any more following an incident that occurred on December 6, 2019.

On that day Mckie’s neighbour, Lesroy Richardson, put up signs saying “No trespassing” in an effort to deter the farmer from using a dirt track which she regularly used to get to farming lands. She had been working these lands for 25 years.

Richardson had previously threatened her to stop.

On December 6, when he saw McKie walking and returning from her land, he went home and picked up his shotgun. He approached ‘Mama Ny’ who asked him “is shoot you really going shoot me Lesroy?”

After this he shot her in her right leg, went over to her, placed the shotgun on her head and said “shut up, this is the write off shot now.”

It is said that when he attempted to discharge the weapon a live round fell out of the chamber and landed on the ground next to McKie.

Other neighbours came to her assistance while Richardson fled.

Although she was taken to the Levi Latham Health Complex and then the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) where surgery was done on her leg, the farmer’s wound has yet to heal. She walks with the assistance of crutches.

Richardson was charged with four counts including: wounding with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm without a licence, and possession of ammunition without a licence.

On May 20, 2022 Richardson pleaded guilty to two counts, namely possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition without a licence.

There was a trial for the other two counts during which the crown, represented by Crown Counsel, Kaylia Toney called eight witnesses to the stand.

The 45-year-old accused was found guilty by a unanimous verdict of the jury on May 26 of wounding with intent and possession of a firearm to endanger life.

On June 15, Justice Brian Cottle sentenced Richardson to 19 years, 11 months and nine days for wounding with intent. For possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, he is sentenced to 11 years, 11 months and nine days.

For the possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence he is sentenced to two years, 10 months and nine days incarceration.