Richards’ sentencing deferred due to counsel’s illness
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Private Louis Richards
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE sentencing hearing for Private Louis Richards of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force was deferred owing to the absence of his lawyer who is reportedly suffering from a bout of flu.
Richards, who was convicted of the manslaughter of Clyde Williams of Old Road, was brought before the Basseterre High Court of Justice this morning when his sentencing hearing was to have commenced.
Crown Counsel Reynold Benjamin submitted to the court that he had been contacted by Richards’ counsel, Jason Hamilton, who informed that he was recovering from the flu and was unable to appear before the court.
Trial judge, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle, told Richards that he would have to return to the court next week when his sentence hearing is scheduled to commence.
On October 14, 2008, a 12-member jury convicted Richards of the August 3, 2007 incident. ~~Adz:Right~~
He was originally charged with two counts of wounding with intent and one count of murder. He was however exonerated of the murder charge, convicted of manslaughter and the jury was undecided as to whether he was guilty or not of the two other charges.
According to the evidence, on that faithful night, Richards was seated by a bar in Old Road when shots came from an alley and struck him in the buttock. He took cover after which he emerged and discharged a round from his service pistol.
According to the prosecution, that round struck and injured Addren ‘Ado’ Searles and also struck and killed Williams. After calling for assistance, Richards journeyed by foot to the eastern end of Old Road where he saw Jevon ‘Herbie’ Woodley and others.
According to Woodley’s and others’ testimonies, Richards shot at him without reason. But, according to Richards’ testimony and the testimony of another defence witness, Woodley hoisted his shirt and motioned as if to remove a gun from his waist. Richards said that this, along with the fact that he saw Searles and Woodley shooting at him earlier, were the reasons for him shooting Woodley.
After conviction, Richards, who was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison, was instructed to return to court today to be sentenced.
In light of the information passed on in court today, Justice Francis Belle set Thursday, December 11, 2008 for the sentencing hearing.
