Video Evidence Seals 30-Year Sentence for Cacho
Lyson James Cacho will spend the next thirty years in prison after pleading guilty to murder midway through his trial, following damning video evidence that identified him as the gunman. Justice Candace Nanton handed down the fixed-term sentence late Monday in the High Court, starting from a benchmark of thirty-five years before applying reductions. Cacho avoided a life sentence after entering a guilty plea, though not at the earliest stage of the proceedings. As a result, he did not receive the full one-third discount typically granted for early pleas. The court also credited him for seven hundred and seventy days already spent on remand. In delivering the sentence, Justice Nanton pointed to several mitigating factors, including Cacho’s expression of genuine remorse and his admission that he carried out the shooting. The court also considered his good behavior in prison and his completion of four rehabilitation programs while at the Kolbe Foundation. The case took a dramatic turn on April twenty-nine, 2026, when Cacho changed his plea after jurors were shown surveillance footage capturing the killing in broad daylight on Barbara Harris Street. The video shows Cacho riding up behind the victim, who was walking away, and firing a single shot to the back of his head. Following the testimony of key witnesses and the presentation of the footage, Cacho opted to end the trial after consulting with his attorney, Ian Gray. In his final remarks to the court, Cacho expressed deep remorse, claiming he acted under threat. The judge acknowledged his statement but proceeded with sentencing based on the gravity of the offense. Notably, Cacho had previously faced serious charges in 2015, including murder and attempted murder, but was acquitted in that case.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
Watch the full newscast here: