BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - KASIM BUCHANAN walked out of the Lee Llewellyn Moore Judiciary Complex a free man on Thursday (June 4) after his 12-year sentence for wounding with intent and unlawful wounding was reduced to five years.
Representing himself before the Justices of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, Buchanan argued that the 12-year sentence imposed on him in 2012 by his Lordship Justice Errol Thomas was too harsh.
Buchanan said he felt that he should serve a shorter prison term as the crime he was convicted for was done without a weapon and did not warrant 12 years in prison.
Buchanan also made it known that prior to this matter he had no other conviction.
In response, Director of Public Prosecution Travers Sinanan also felt that the sentence was excessive.
The Justices of Appeal pointed out to Buchanan that the maximum sentence for his conviction is 20 years, and though he did not use a weapon he was said to have used his working boot on the victim's face.
Buchanan was successful in his appeal against the 12-year sentence as the Justices of Appeal reduced his prison term to five years with the time already served taken into account.
Buchanan then pointed out to the court that he had already served four years and six months in prison and the Prosecutor indicated that the time served had equated to more than six prison years.
It was then indicated to him that he was now a free man.
Buchanan appeared before his Lordship Justice Errol Thomas on November 1 2012 at the Basseterre High Court for sentencing following his conviction on October, 3, 2012.
He was charged and convicted with the November 14, 2009 beating of Leroy Viera of Mount Idle, Sandy Point sometime after 5:00 p.m. on Station Street of that town.
