Two convicted Guyanese felons have failed in their last bid to secure freedom after their appeal of four-year sentences was thrown out by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in a press release yesterday said that the CCJ delivered a majority verdict and affirmed the 4-year jail sentences imposed on convicted felons Paul Lashley and John Campayne by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on December 28, 2012.
The State was represented by Sir Fenton Ramsahoye QC in Trinidad and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Sonia Joseph at the Guyana Court Appeal building.
Giving some background for the case, the release said that on June 15, 2012 contrary to Section 229 (a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Caption 8:01, the police instituted the indictable charge of break and enter against the two defendants/appellants, 23 year-old sales rep, Paul Lashley and 2l year-old technician/goldminer John Campayne, of two laptop computers, two safes, $380,000 (30,000 Indian rupees), $925,000 and US$2,740 property of Hemant Narine.
The offence was committed between Sunday June 10, 2012 and Monday June 11, 2012 at Industrial Safety Supplies Inc in Georgetown.
After hearing the indictable matter summarily, the Chief Magistrate, correctly found both the applicants guilty and sentenced them to four years imprisonment, the release said adding that the two convicts appealed their sentences to the Guyana Court of Appeal but it was dismissed.
The duo then applied for special leave to the CCJ to hear their appeal, which was granted. The application for special leave to appeal was heard on February 18, 20I4 at the Guyana International Conference Centre where a special sitting of the CCJ had been held.
The release said that yesterday the CCJ dismissed the appeal, reaffirmed the the 4-year sentences and credited the 2 appellants with 4 days that they spent on remand.
