BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – RAZBA MATTHEW was yesterday (July 21) sentenced by His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas at the Basseterre High Court to seven years in prison for the manslaughter of Stancia Lake.
Matthew was found guilty on July 6 by a 12-member jury that was divided 10-2.
Matthew’s counsel, Attorney-At-Law Marsha Henderson, made mitigations on his behalf at his sentencing hearing and called on Elsie Mills, a teacher, who spoke of his character.
Mills said that Matthew was a quiet, respectful young man that attended her pre-school.
She said that she saw him several times as he grew up and that he remained an intelligent young man.
The teacher said that the incident was unfortunate and asked his Lordship be lenient with him.
Henderson said that the offence was a serious crime that carries the maximum sentence of life.
She said that it was very unfortunate, as the victim and convict would have grown up in the same area and were known to be acquainted.
She added that the now 19-year-old Matthew committed the crime when he was 16 and he has never been before the court.
She also said that he was a well-behaved student in school and was in form 3A1.
Henderson mentioned that, according to his social inquiry report prepared by Probation Officer Elvis Thomas, there was a change in his behaviour after his parents had separated and during his attendance at high school.
It was stated that Matthew “clinged” to boys who exhibited anti-social behaviour.
Justice Thomas said that Matthew’s report painted a picture of an intelligent person who is perfect for rehabilitation.
Before sentencing him, His Lordship said that the court had carefully considered the case and his sentencing, but there was a disturbing factor in his action at the time of the incident.
“One disturbing factor…the prisoner did not wait to find out if the same lady who plait his hair was okay. He jumped up and ran away,” he said.
Justice Thomas also said that offence was a very serious one because a firearm was involved.
The trial began on June 27 and the prosecution had alleged that Matthew shot and killed 14-year-old Stancia Lake on August 8, 2009 at a home located at the corner of Wigley Avenue and Cayon Street.
The prosecution team called a total of 10 witnesses and was led by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Paulina Hendrickson.
Barbadian Forensic Pathologist Dr. Stephen Jones told the court that on August 11, 2009 he had performed an autopsy on the deceased and found that death was due to a gunshot wound to the head.
Justin Stevens, one of the prosecution witnesses, told the court that he, Lake and Matthew were in his bedroom where she had first plaited the accused hair.
He said the accused was sitting near a window in the bedroom and that Lake was plaiting his hair while his twin brother and another friend were also at the home.
Stevens said he was seated on the floor and Lake sat directly behind him on the edge of the bed, and that he was startled when he heard the sound of gunfire.
“I felt Stancia ease over on me and when I turned around she was falling and I saw blood,” he said.
Stevens said he was not sure where the sound came from as it echoed, but the accused was sitting by a window in the room.
It was also revealed that the accused left the home immediately after Lake was shot.
Another of the prosecution’s witnesses was Corporal Avalon Anthony, who said that he received a call from Stevens’ mother, who heard of the incident when she arrived home.
Anthony said he received a call from Stevens at about 4:55 p.m. and he had observed that she was crying.
He said he arrived at the scene with another officer and that a search was conducted and one spent shell was found in a clothes closet in another room.
He said while there, Lake’s mother had arrived and also Dr. Mervyn Laws.
Corporal Anthony said that after receiving certain information he spoke with the accused on August 13, 2009.
Anthony also told the court that he arrested Matthew based on certain information he received.
