by Nisha Paul
- Stabbing death of 31-year-old Chris “Benji” Alfred occurred in November 2022
- Penny initially indicted for Non-Capital Murder, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter by Provocation
- Sentenced to 12 years, 4 months, and 28 days in prison
A 37-year-old man from Boca, St George, will spend over a decade in prison after pleading guilty to Manslaughter by Provocation in the 2022 stabbing death of 31-year-old Chris “Benji” Alfred.
Kelly Penny was sentenced at the St George’s No. 1 High Court on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, to 12 years, 4 months, and 28 days, bringing closure to the nearly 3-year-old case that rocked the Boca community on 13 November 2022.
In handing down the sentence, High Court Judge Madame Justice Paula Gilford outlined several aggravating factors, including the fact that the fatal incident occurred in a public area, and a post-mortem confirmed Alfred died from hypovolemic shock.
Penny, who has been on remand since the incident, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accepted the plea. He was initially indicted for Non-Capital Murder. The case, which highlights the difficult balance courts must often strike between accountability and compassion, was prosecuted by Senior Crown Counsel Howard Pinnock.
Criminal Defence Attorney Arley Gill represented Penny and emphasised what he described as a “high degree of provocation,” arguing that Penny had no intent to kill and that the knife used in the incident belonged to the victim. As part of his mitigation plea, Gill stated that his client acted in the heat of the moment after being verbally and physically attacked by Alfred. Despite these mitigating factors, the court cited Penny’s failure to seek medical assistance for Alfred and his decision to return to the scene after the stabbing to retrieve personal belongings as further aggravating elements. In addition to the custodial sentence, Penny was ordered to undergo no less than 6 months of psychotherapeutic treatment, with progress reports to be submitted to the court every 6 months. Failure to comply with the court’s order could result in an additional year of incarceration.
Alfred, who left behind a 10-year-old son, is remembered for his handcrafted bamboo brooms, which he sold across Boca and nearby villages.
Following the sentencing, Gill acknowledged the gravity of the fatal incident and told reporters that it is important to note that Penny was not the aggressor. “Also, the instrument that was used to inflict the fatal wound belonged to the deceased,” he added, stressing that “Mr Penny was not acting in any way with premeditation for violence.”
When asked about the chances of an appeal in the matter, the attorney affirmed that he has to review the decision with his client before deciding whether to pursue further legal action.
While Penny’s sentencing brings a legal close to a case that has weighed heavily on the Boca community since 2022, for the families involved, the emotional aftermath and the questions raised will likely linger far beyond the courtroom.
