BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FIRE OFFICER Akiel Warner and Security Officer Glenville Isaac were both sentenced to prison, yesterday (Oct. 31) by His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas, for two counts of armed robbery, committed on Nov. 20, 2010.
Both robberies occurred on Station Street, Old Road and they were found guilty on Oct. 14 at the Basseterre High Court, by a 12-member jury.
The prosecution team was led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Paulina Hendrickson who proved that Warner and Isaac, armed with a bottle and knife, robbed Le-jorne Johnson and his friend Terrance Francis.
The first count of robbery was committed against Johnson when they robbed him of EC$30 and a Motorola phone, all to the value of EC$680 while in the second count, the twosome then robbed Francis of EC$350 and his blackberry phone, all to the total value of EC$1,100.
According to the evidence, both Johnson and Francis were in Old Road and had just bought something to eat when they were approached by both accused who were not wearing masks.
After they were robbed by the accused, they were told to leave Old Road and not go to the police. Warner and Isaac also made sure Johnson and Francis did not go to the police by following them to catch a bus.
Attorney-At-Law Jason Hamilton represented Warner at the sentencing and spoke on behalf of his client.
Hamilton said that Warner is someone who is capable of rehabilitation and that he made an error in judgment when he committed the crime.
He said Warner left school one year early because he saw the need to assist his younger siblings and family financially.
It was said that Warner, who is currently age 20, became a fire officer at 18 as it was a life’s ambition.
Isaac’s mother, Pearline Isaac, spoke on behalf of her son and she said that he is not a bad child.
She asked His Lordship, as he makes his decision, to do so with mercy.
Glenville also spoke on his own behalf and said that he wants to be pardoned for his crime and wants to be a positive role model for his son.
“I made a mistake but I’m just asking for forgiveness,” he said.
According to the social inquiry report prepared by Probation Officer Wingrove George, robbery is a very serious offense and Warner being a part of national security should have known better.
The report said that Isaac is a fragment of a broken home and that the mother surrendered long time ago when he started showcasing bad behavior.
“Cannot ignore the fact that a fire officer was involved… even to a fire officer, police, a strong message must be sent, crime does not pay,” Justice Thomas said.
“A fire officer involved in crime is shocking; he has had basic training as a police officer, can you imagine they followed the victims and made them catch a bus and I suppose the fire officer thought it would have ended there.”
Of Isaac, he said a security officer’s duty is to prevent people from stealing and that the absence of his father in his life is not an excuse to commit crime.
Warner was then sentenced to four years while Isaac received three years in prison.
“Warner knew better and should have never encouraged his friend in the matter. I hope you would learn your lesson and play a new part in life. You both had jobs, whatever you needed (would) just take your time and hard work, your time will come,” he said.
Justice Thomas also spoke about the escalating crime situation in the Federation and said that more needs to be done to discourage the young people from committing crime.
“This country depends on Tourism. No Tourist would want to come here with the crime situation. These young people are threatening to bring the country to its knees. We have to do something about the young people. Young people are involved in all kinds of crime especially with a firearm. However, there was none used in this case,” he said.
