BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - GRAPHIC ARTIST Leslie Farrell, who owns 7 Star Editing and its affiliates Star Photography and 7 Star Entertainment, yesterday (Jan. 18) pleaded guilty to a gas station robbery and unlawful wounding.
Farrell appeared before Justice Errol Thomas at the Basseterre High Court and was represented by Chesley Hamilton, who requested that sentencing be in two weeks following a social inquiry report.
Justice Thomas accepted the request and set the sentencing hearing for February 3.
According to the facts read in court, on September 2, 2010 Farrell, armed with a cutlass, entered the compound of Gillard’s Gas Station at Douglas Commercial Development, and robbed Jody-Ann Chinn-Liddie of EC$358 and wounded Avan Lapsey.
According to previous reports, Farrell had entered the compound wearing a mask with the intention of committing a crime. He was however disarmed by Lapsey, who had benefitted from training in a number of countries while a serving member of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes shortly after the incident, Lapsey said that on the night in question he was on the perimeter of the gas station when he saw Farrell enter the compound wearing a mask.
He said he shouted, “Mask man!” and made his way on the inside of the building where the lubricants are sold and that Farrell had pursued him.
Lapsey said that Farrell then began demanding money and was “swinging a machete around”.
The former Constable said, “With my training and experience, I’m trained to disarm and kill so I decided he was not going to rob this place tonight. I went into action quickly and decided to take him down. We had a struggle and I had him down for a while until the police came and took him from me.”
He said that after the police removed Farrell from his physical restraint he observed that there was an injury on his left hand and left index finger.
Farrell, who is also a basketball player and fairly popular in society, had everyone shocked when his identity was revealed as the perpetrator.
One person commenting on the SKNVibes report on the incident said that he seemed to be a nice person.
“I don't know this guy but it seemed he was no slouch. He's a popular Facebook member, he's a photographer, graphic designer, basketball player, someone said he started his own business, he's a father, he organized a hike, seems to be a nice person etc. The question is what would turn a young man like this to armed robbery? It’s baffling. People should not let the pressures of life spurn them to sin,” the person commented.
