BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE MEN who robbed the Royal Bank of Canada on January 7, 2010 together received a total of 32 years in prison sentences for one count each of robbery and three counts each of assault with intent to rob.
The men, who had their case tried in the January 2012 Criminal Assizes were found guilty by a 12-member jury on June 28, 2012.
On the first charge, the two were said to have stolen a number of items including a driver’s license, a cell phone and pendant all to the total value of EC$2 468.20 belonging to Errol Finch; while on the latter charges of assault with intent to rob, the offences were committed on Neresha Francis, Lorna Wilson and Kieb Armstrong.
Elliott, in his plea for leniency, said that he has thought about his actions and is ready to turn a new leaf and change his life.
"I have thought about it, I am willing to turn a new page of mercy. I ask the Court to give me a sentence of hope, I am willing to change to be a better person,"
Elliott, who is already serving a 32 year prison sentence for a robbery that took place in Halfway Tree, asked the Court for mercy as he strives to be a better person for his daughter whom he thinks about to which the Judge asked: "When did you think about your daughter? While you were in Halfway Tree or while you were at the bank?"
He further asked the Court to consider the fact that he is already serving a very long sentence for a similar offence.
"I want the Court to acknowledge that I am presently serving a 32 year sentence; I humbly ask the Court to have some mercy on me. I am sorry for wasting the Court's time. I also apologise to the virtual complainants.
Stevens on the other hand said that he fell victim to the negative influences that he allowed to dictate his life.
"With this case, my life of crime was not the life I chose and if given a second chance, I will not do anything that is wrong once I know it is wrong. I have never been a good learner in school and did not leave school with any subjects, and so I allowed people to dictate my life. I became a follower instead of a leader," he said.
He said that since he has been in prison, he has joined a few classes including Mathematics and English.
He then begged the Court for leniency.
In the men's Social Inquiry Reports, the 30-year-old Elliott was described as "nothing short of a dangerous criminal" who shows no signs of slowing down his criminal activities, while the 23-year-old Stevens was said to be one who aligned himself with the wrong people.
Justice Errol Thomas, before handing down his sentence, told Elliott that he is not a person fit to be on the outside.
"You are not a person who deserves mercy; this seems to be your specialty - robbing people. You need to be put away, you are a dangerous criminal."
To Stevens, Justice Thomas said he did not see why the Court should be lenient on him.
Elliott was then given 17 years for the robbery charge and one year each for the three counts of assault with intent to rob. The sentences will run concurrently with each other but consecutively to the sentence he is already serving.
Stevens was, however, given 15 years for the robbery charge and one year each for the three counts of assault with intent to rob.
His sentences will also run concurrently with the time on remand deducted.
