Hopkinson sentenced to 32 years for Catherine Pickering murder
Akeem Hopkinson has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for the April 2021 murder of Catherine Pickering after being found guilty on all four counts—murder, robbery, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and possession of a prohibited firearm.
At the High Court today, Monday, March 10, Judge Rajiv Persad sentenced Hopkinson to:
- 32 years for murder,
- 19 years for robbery,
- 17 years for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and
- 7 years for possession of a prohibited firearm.
Hopkinson was charged with firearm possession on April 16, 2021—two days before the murder and robbery.
The judge deducted three years from each sentence for time already served and ordered that all sentences run concurrently, meaning Hopkinson will serve a total of 32 years, including time spent in custody.
A 10-member jury found Hopkinson guilty on all charges on February 25 after approximately three hours of deliberation.
Richardson’s sentence
Shemar Richardson, who pleaded guilty to robbery, was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months after time served. His sentencing took place shortly before Hopkinson’s.
He was informed that he could apply for parole after serving three years, with a precondition of counselling.
What the court heard happened
The case stems from an attack on April 18, 2021, in Paraquita Bay, where Catherine Pickering was fatally shot in the head and chest at her home. The shooting occurred moments after her daughter, Maricel Pickering, was ambushed and robbed in their driveway after closing Big Brother’s Gas Station, where she worked as a manager.
According to Maricel’s testimony, she had just exited her car when she heard a voice demand, “Give me the money.” Gunshots rang out, prompting her to throw a bag of money and run for cover. When the gunfire ceased and the assailant fled on a motorcycle, she discovered her mother inside the house with gunshot wounds.
Catherine Pickering was later pronounced dead at Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital.
The trial
Hopkinson’s trial began in late January at the High Court, where he was represented by Phoenix Law.
Richardson, who worked at the gas station at the time, admitted to providing information that led to the robbery and, ultimately, the murder.
Hopkinson was initially charged alongside 28-year-old Shameek Grant. However, Grant was recently acquitted after the court upheld a no-case submission. A no-case submission is made when the defense argues that the prosecution’s evidence is insufficient to support a conviction, leading to a dismissal of the charges.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
POS!!!!
He deserves more than that 32 years. Quite frankly he deserves life.
As a law abiding person, I don’t go looking for trouble. When trouble comes my way, I believe in using the law to deal with the troublemakers.
These troublemakers had no business robbing those folks and taking Ms Pickering’s life. They should have learn something in school, and find a job to take care of themselves. Rather, they saw it fit to go about robbing people for their hard earned money.
He is lucky he did not have a judge on the bench with my mindset. I would have lost them both under the jail house without blinking an eye.
The 32 years he got cannot bring back the life he took.
I hope they are miserable every single day they are in prison. I have no sympathy for these kind of people who go about destroying other people’s lives. None. My sympathy always remains with the victims and their families.
How will he pay his lawyers?
The hardworking jack donkeys of the house of imported trash will pay for lawyers in addition to his comfortable room and board unemployed and noncontributory time complete with free medical care for this young blackmale with ties to the Caricom failed parasitic chain of dependency and
savagery.
Let his family go dig ditch or cut bush to pay his lawyers.
Only 32 years for murder?
This place is a joke.
Justice will come!!
I agree, he should have been sentenced to life in prison. Every time I see the lady’s picture, I feel so sad. That lady was one of the nicest person, quiet, mind her business and never bothered anyone. When Covid was rampant she still allow him to have/keep a job while others lost their jobs. I hope every night when he lay his head down to sleep he sees the lady face he set up to be killed for pennies. Damn ungrateful ingrate.