Tisagh awaits sentencing in January

Tisagh awaits sentencing in January

User Rating:

/ 0

Details: Parent Category: Dec 2011; Category: Week ending Dec 31st, 2011; Published on Monday, 02 January 2012 18:27; Hits: 1090

Young Entrepreneur Tisagh Chase has to wait until the new year to hear from the Supreme Court what price he has to pay for causing the death of Kevin Hillaire of Mardigras, St. Paul’s. Chase was found guilty of murder at High Court Number One on July 26.

The murder took place at an apartment in Mont Tout, St. George’s that was being occupied by Trisha Haywood, Chase’s girlfriend, between June 12 and 13, 2008.

At the start of the sentencing trial on Monday, defense counsel Ruggles Ferguson has asked the court that is being presided over by Madam Justice Clare Henry to consider an appropriate sentence on his client of time served and community service.

Ferguson told the court that after having been charged with murder, Chase spent four months on remand before being granted bail in October 2008, and was again remanded pending sentencing after the guilty verdict was reached.

The defense attorney said in total, his client has spent close to five calendar months incarcerated. He indicated that at the prison this works out to nine months which represents one year and one month since a prison year is eight months.

Ferguson felt that the prison incarceration of his client would have already served its purpose since his client is not a risk to society.

Ferguson who is associated with the Law Firm of Ciboney Chambers in St. George’s also looked at Chase’s involvement at the prison.

He spoke of the 27-year old murder convict currently engaged in teaching mathematics to his fellow inmates, and a mentor in the “Big Brother Programme” at the prison which helps to build character.

The city lawyer also told the court recently Chase was the lead spokesperson to a group of students from his Alma Mater, the Grenada Boys Secondary School who visited the prison.

In his mitigation on behalf of Chase, Ferguson told the court to consider setting up an educational fund for the three children of the 25-year old dead man in which his client can contribute to over a period of time.

While agreeing that the case is not an appropriate one for the death penalty or for life sentence, State Prosecutor Howard Pinnock said the sentence the court should administer on Chase must reflect its concern over the frequency for such incidents.

Pinnock pointed to the types of instruments that are normally used in settling disputes and the age range of those who engage in harming others.

He said public confidence must be maintained in the justice system.

After listening to the strong arguments that were put forward by both sides, Justice Henry reserved sentencing to January 17, 2012.