Redemption Sharpes men appeal, get manslaughter sentences reduced

Two Redemption Sharpes men, who had been given 20-year custodial sentences on manslaughter and wounding charges, had their sentences reduced at the Court of Appeal last week.{{more}}

Romano Pompey, 26, who was on November 9, 2012 sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on a charge of manslaughter, had his sentence reduced to 18 years, following submissions by his counsel Jomo Thomas on October 1.

Pompey, who was initially charged with the murder of Esron “Banks” Ells, had pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and unlawful use of a firearm.

Fellow villager Jabari Charles, 25, who had pleaded guilty to wounding and unlawful use of a firearm, had his 20-year sentence reduced to 10 years.

The trial judge had reprimanded and discharged both men on the firearm charges.

On hearing that their sentences had been reduced, neither of the men displayed any signs of emotion as they walked calmly back to the prisoners’ bench, before being taken back to jail.

Ells, who was also a resident of Redemption Sharpes, died around 10 p.m. on June 18, 2012, after he was gunned down in the area of the National Broadcasting Corporation at Richmond Hill.

The shooting followed an altercation with some men on Halifax Street, near the Postal Corporation building.

Ells, who received a gunshot wound to his right cheek, died on the way to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

On Tuesday, Thomas argued that the sentence of his client (Pompey) was excessive, and noted that the trial judge had moved away from the benchmark of 15 years for manslaughter.

Thomas added that the court did not properly apply the law in handing down the sentence.

In Charles’ case, the judge ruled that his sentence on the wounding charge was “unduly harsh” after he pleaded guilty.

However, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Colin John, in response, was of the view that the sentences were not excessive and the judge had not erred. He added that the judge took the sentencing guidelines into consideration. (KW)