Heavy Sentences for Young Gunmen

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police

Saturday, 23 February 2013 02:30

By Nicole Shirley

Antigua St. John's - Hezekiah Parker, Azia Robbins, and Arthur James were sentenced Friday when they appeared in the High Court before Chief Justice Keith Thom.

The three men were found guilty of shooting with intent after an incident in St John’s on January 1, 2008.

Two character witnesses spoke on Parker’s behalf. Camelda Michael described him as respectful and easy going, sentiments echoed by Paulette Dowdie.

The latter added, however, that the 25 year old was easily sidetracked. Under cross-examination by Crown Counsel Adlai Smith, she told the court that she was not surprised that he had been expelled from the Clare Hall Secondary School, since she knew him to be linked to fights in the past.

The three offenders apologised to the court, the two people injured, the nation, and the police force.  

The Chief Justice expressed concern about the prevalence of gun-related crimes, adding that in 2008, there were 31 cases of shooting with intent, 14 murders, and 28 cases of possession of a firearm.

Justice Thom said this shooting had taken place in broad daylight, in view of the public, and multiple shots were fired, penetrating a nearby home and two parked vehicles.

At the time, Parker and James were both 18, and Robbins 20.

The younger men were both sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, while Robbins, the most remorseful of the three, received 10.

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