BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - “THANK you your Lordship” were the words expressed by Akeem Whyte and Deslia DeSouza just before they exited the prisoner’s dock at the Basseterre High Court yesterday afternoon (Jun. 20), having been given a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered to receive professional counselling.
The two Fiennes Avenue, McKnight residents were jointly charged for possession of housebreaking implements and malicious damage, committed at approximately 3:00 a.m. on June 22, 2012 in the vicinity of the Sands Complex in Newtown.
A crime of that nature carries a maximum sentence of 10 years; however, DeSouza and Whyte were spared jail time and were instead each given a 12-month suspended sentence.
On the charge of possession of housebreaking implements, they were convicted and given a one-year sentence which was reduced by one third, making it eight months. And on the malicious damage charge, they were also convicted and given a six-month sentence which was reduced to four months, making the combined sentences one year.
The duo received the suspended sentence on condition that should either of them be arrested for any offense during the 12-month period, they would be brought back before the Court and be jailed for one year.
Justice Errol Thomas told them that counselling treatment was an “order” by the Court, in which they are to report to the Department of Probation and Child Protection Services once per week for counselling and guidance for the first three months, and thereafter would do so once every two weeks.
The judge dictated that the Department would be the “primary overseer” in regards to the counselling.
Appearing before the High Court on May 15, this year, both Whyte and DeSouza pleaded guilty to the offence.
As customary in sentencing hearings, Justice Thomas, at yesterday’s proceedings, asked the duo if they wished to say anything prior to being sentenced.
DeSouza, a 25-year-old mother of five, with the youngest being three months old, begged the Court to “have leniency because of my five children”.
“I’m begging you my Lordship”, she said with tears streaming down her face.
DeSouza had indicated her interest in partaking in any counselling or therapy sessions and voiced that she had it rough growing up and does not want her children to go down the same road.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Whyte told the Court that he had sincerely regretted his actions and had acknowledged “my wrongness”.
According to Whyte, during his time in prison he had taken up “honest and positive thinking and I intend to stay that way”.
Whyte asked for forgiveness and a chance to prove himself a changed person.
Following DeSouza’s plea for professional help, Justice Thomas asked Whyte: “Do you want counselling too?” to which he replied “yes your Lordship”.
A Probation Officer, who took to the witness stand yesterday, was asked by the judge about the different counselling services provided by the Department, to which he relayed the relevant options including parenting classes.
Form a Social Enquiry Report, it was highlighted by Justice Thomas that DeSouza had a “deep history” with the Probation Department as a troubled teen and now an abusive parent.
It stated that “she loves her children” but does not have parenting skills.
At yesterday’s sentencing, it was pointed out that Whyte had written his CXC examinations while imprisoned.
Following DeSouza’s arrest in 2012, she was released on bail while Whyte remained on remand at Her Majesty's Prison.
SKNVibes learnt that on the day in question, a police officer, who was on patrol at the time, heard when a security alarm was activated in the Sands Complex and, upon investigation, realised that the sound of the alarm came from Caribe Café.
The officer entered the building and conducted a search and found Whyte and DeSouza hiding behind a large flower pot.
They were apprehended and a search of their person revealed parts of the security alarm system in the pocket of one of the two bandits, and also a handbag within which were housebreaking equipment.
Further investigations revealed that the two youths had disabled the security alarm, but not before it was activated for a short while.
They were subsequently arrested and taken to the Basseterre Police Station, where they were charged for the offence.
